Two local students earned gold medals in the provincial Skills Canada competition last week.
The annual event is a chance for high school and post-secondary students to demonstrate their abilities in a wide range of skills and trades.
Paul Kane’s Hannah Murphy took the gold medal in graphic design while Braden Panasiuk of Sturgeon Composite High School earned gold in the outdoor power and recreation equipment.
Murphy said she was confident the top prize was within reach after finishing second last year.
“People started calling me Ricky Bobby because I was so sure I was going to win,” said the Grade 12 student.
Panasiuk was surprised by his win since he only heard about the competition two days before it started.
“I knew I’d do good but it was kind of exciting to get first,” said the 16-year-old Grade 11 student. He felt he was helped by the hours he spends working at his dad’s shop in Gibbons.
Both gold medalists were scheduled to fly to Kitchener-Waterloo Wednesday to compete in the Skills Canada national competition that runs May 19 to 23.
“I’m really excited. I worked really hard for it,” said Murphy. “I just want a medal. I want to bring home hardware.”
Panasiuk was also eager to make the trip but his expectations were less defined.
“It would be nice to get a medal but we’ll see. It’s probably going to be a lot tougher than the provincial one. Hopefully I do okay,” he said.
Paul Kane students were dominant in the graphic design event, with Grade 12 student Danae Smith taking silver and Grade 10 students Ryley Fuller and Raquelle Ouimet taking fourth and fifth.
Paul Kane tries to introduce the skills competition to students in Grade 10 so they can build experience and confidence, said teacher Jim Dosman.
“It’s a lot about meeting new people, testing themselves,” he said.
“If we get them prepared, they feel that much better about their experience knowing that they’re as good as any high school student out there at that particular skill.”
Another local student earned the bronze in graphic design: Christina Goodwin of Morinville Community High School. Her brother Andrew teamed up with Morgan Allen to win the bronze in TV and video production.
“We always pride ourselves in doing fairly well at skills,” said Greg Boutestein, media and design teacher at MCHS.
“It’s always good when the kids do well. The kids felt good about the work they did. At the end of the day that’s the most important thing,” he said.
A number of local students earned fourth place finishes: Travis Poseluzny of Paul Kane in culinary arts, Melissa Cannon of St. Albert Catholic in hairstyling – intermediate and Luc Seguin of Morinville Community High School in cabinet-making.
