Bringing home the gold: SkillsUSA builds confidence and technical skills

July 02, 2019 -- Hennepin Technical College student Ander Hillebregt earned a gold medal at the SkillsUSA Championships, a national competition focusing on trade, technical, and leadership skills.

Hillebregt won the cabinetmaking category in which he had just eight hours to build a cabinet from the materials and drawings supplied. He competed against dozens of other students technical colleges across the country.

“I am impressed with what he accomplished while racing against the clock,” said Duane Rasmussen, SkillsUSA advisor for Hennepin Technical College. “His work was so precise and his finished cabinet was better than the model cabinet.”

Contestants read drawings and cut the parts using a table saw, laminate trimmer, hand drill, and various other tools. The parts must be accurately assembled, sanded and adjusted to tolerances specified by the judges.

More than more than 6,400 outstanding career and technical education students competed in 100 categories at the event in Louisville, Kentucky. Hillebregt was awarded prizes valued at $2,500.

In the spring of 2019, the Hennepin Technical College team shined at the SkillsUSA Minnesota State Leadership and Skills Conference. Hillebregt earned a gold medal in cabinetmaking and three other students from the college also earned first place awards in web design and advertising categories. Six students from HennepinTech earned silver medals in categories such as automotive service technology and job interview.

SkillsUSA is a national leadership club that helps prepare high school and college students for success in the workplace. The organization partners with industry and represents more than 130 trade, technical and skilled service occupations.