A student from Sturgeon Composite High School brought home a silver medal from a national skills competition.
Braden Panasiuk, a 16-year-old Grade 11 student, won second place at the Skills Canada national competition, an annual event where high school and post-secondary students demonstrate their abilities in a wide range of skills and trades.
Panasiuk competed in the outdoor power and recreation equipment event, which requires participants to demonstrate skills and knowledge in the repair and diagnosis of small engines. A gold medal at the provincial level in May earned him a berth at nationals.
"It was definitely a whole new level of competition," Panasiuk said. "I felt like I did a lot better but the competition was a lot better too."
Panasiuk credits much of his ability to the hours he spends working at his dad's business, Gibbons Motor Toys. He'd learned of the provincial competition just two days before that event and was surprised when he won. Earning a silver medal at nationals behind a student from Prince Albert, Sask. was a similar experience.
"I felt like I did OK but definitely didn't think I placed again. Somehow I got second," he said.
Panasiuk's high placement came as no surprise to his teachers.
"He's an extremely talented, mature young man," said Carla Cowley. "He's very strong in academics and a very, very strong mechanic."
Panasiuk said he hopes to get involved in some sort of trade after high school, perhaps something connected to his dad's shop.
"We're very proud of him at this school," Cowley said. "He's just an upstanding young man. He's a good representation for our school. We're very fortunate."
The Skills Canada national competition took place in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ont. from May 19 to 23.
Kane student gets seventh
Another local student who competed at nationals was Paul Kane's Hannah Murphy, a 17-year-old Grade 12 student. Murphy finished seventh in the graphic design event, well short of her goal of winning a medal.
"In the end I was OK with it," she said. "Coming home with a medal was my best scenario. It was one of those dreams, something I was reaching for, but I'm really happy with the fact I came in seventh."
