The following was submitted by Loyalist College
This week, Loyalist College hosted their annual Skills Competition, welcoming more than 70 high school students from across the region to showcase their talents and compete in a variety of technical and creative fields. The competition, held at Loyalist’s Belleville campus, featured a range of categories including 2D Character Animation, Automotive Service Technician, Baking, Electrical, Esthetics, Photography, Carpentry and Welding.
Jeremy Braithwaite, Coordinator and Professor of Loyalist’s Mechanical Techniques and Manufacturing Engineering Technician programs, highlights how skills competitions encourage students to pursue their ambitions and envision their future in the skilled trades.
“As faculty, we see the benefits of hands-on learning in developing skills and building confidence,” says Braithwaite. “By allowing youth to test their abilities on industry-grade equipment in a competitive and supportive environment, we’re creating community and inspiring excellence in the next generation of professionals.”
Demonstrating their skills individually and in teams, students used the college’s state-of-the-art equipment to complete complex hands-on activities. In the carpentry lab, competitors constructed wooden benches with two seats and three planter boxes, while students in the esthetics competition tested their spa skills with facials, pedicures and manicures. Down the hall, animation students started their challenge by receiving a short audio track. They showcased their skills in character design and storyboarding as they created an animated clip to accompany the audio. In the culinary lab, students competing in the baking category were tasked with preparing a three-layer sponge cake with an icing and filling of their choice.
In the afternoon, students completed the final stages of the competition before attending the closing ceremonies, where students were awarded bronze, silver and gold medals. The top competitors in each category also received tuition credits to continue their education at Loyalist College, with bronze medalists receiving a $400 credit, silver medalists receiving a $600 credit and gold medalists receiving a $1,000 credit toward tuition.
“Prospects for students interested in the skilled trades have never been better,” observes Loyalist College President and CEO Mark Kirkpatrick. “Loyalist College is committed to providing the best in facilities, equipment and training expertise to empower anyone eager to seize the career opportunities and join the skilled trades workforce. The Skills Competition is an opportunity to start high school students down a path to success and demonstrate what is possible with the right combination of support, training and hard work.”
