Ontario, CA—During the weekend of April 23-24, students in the CHS Welding Pathway competed in the state SkillsUSA Championship career technical competition at the Ontario Convention Center.

Sophomore Ellis Wright-Bradbury and Junior Gabriel Galindo competed for Welding. Wright placed 8th and Galindo placed 9th in a pool of 14 competitors.

“I feel like Gabriel and I had a great learning experience at the SkillsUSA convention,” Welding competitor Ellis explains,  “Yes, we did have fun while we were there.”

To get to the state competition, Wright and Galindo had to work their way up the ranks by placing at regional competitions. It was an absolute serve for the only two welding students from CHS to win both 1st and 2nd place In Regionals and advancing together from Regionals. 

Lots of work went into their success, and their welding teacher Mr. Chris Barta was with them every step of the way. 

“Most of my time is spent making time for students,” Barta explained, “usually after school, so they can work on their projects or practice for the specific competition category they signed up for.”

SkillsUSA is an organization striving to help students involved in these types of pathways to be the best they can be and reach success in their careers. They involve themselves in middle schools, high schools, and colleges. 

They hold competitions to display student’s skills in their pathway that begin small and grow up to the national level with thousands competing. Our Pathway students participate every year. 

The competitions in general are a great experience for students to practice what they’re learning and show off what they’re learning. While it’s serious, it’s also kind of fun too. 

Career Technical Education like CHS’s pathways give students years worth of classes in specific careers that grant deeper academic, occupational, and technical knowledge of said careers to prepare them for college and future jobs. They also provide opportunities for personal victory and distinction.