For media information, contact:
Dana Urrutia, 678-495-3638
durrutia@gwinnetttech.edu

August 19, 2011

Gwinnett Tech Students Compete in National SkillsUSA Competition

Seven GTC students participated in the national championship held in Kansas City

Seven Gwinnett Technical College students won the right to compete at the NationalSkills USA Competition this summer, with photography student Starr Petronella earning a silver medal at the recent national event in Kansas City.

Petronella is a second year commercial photography student from Atlanta. The judges also chose her image as "Best Picture" in the Print Competition.

The SkillsUSA Championship is the showcase for the best career and technical students in the nation. Contests begin locally and continue through the state and national levels. SkillsUSA is a nonprofit organization that serves teachers and high school and college students who are preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations.

Each Gwinnett Tech student participating at nationals earned a gold medal at the state competition in April. These students included:

• Starr Petronella, Atlanta, for Commercial Photography

• Sean Griffin, Lilburn, for Carpentry

• Christopher Krekemeyer, Dacula, for Welding

• Jennifer La Porte, Bethlehem, for Commercial Baking

• Clay Allen, Cumming;  Vadim Nakonechnyy, Alpharetta;
  and Colin Stephens, Snellville, for Welding Fabrication

Garey Bish, program director for Welding and Joining at Gwinnett Tech, served as the SkillsUSA liaison. "The National SkillsUSA Competition was very impressive. Not only was it a wonderful experience for the students from a competition prospective, but it was also a great networking environment."

SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to develop a strong workforce for America.

GTC offers more than 45 degree, diploma and certificate options that can be completed in two years or less. For more information, visit www.GwinnettTech.edu or call 770-962-7580.

Get the latest news about Gwinnett Tech: http://www.gwinnetttech.edu/news

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About Gwinnett Tech
Gwinnett Technical College, one of Georgia's largest technical colleges, is committed to delivering relevant knowledge to meet the workforce training needs of its community. The college offers more than 50 associate degree, diploma and certificate programs and hundreds of seminars, workshops and courses providing specialized training. GTC is Gwinnett County's largest provider of corporate training and now serves residents and businesses in north Fulton County. Gwinnett Technical College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award the associate degree. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097,404-679-4500, www.sacscoc.org for questions about the accreditation of Gwinnett Technical College. For more information, visit www.GwinnettTech.edu.

A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia.