Bartow SkillsUSA Team National Champs in TeamWorks Division

By Sharon Roper

The Adairsville High School SkillsUSA Team is Nationals Champion in the TeamWorks division. 

SkillsUSA is a national nonprofit organization in which teachers work with high school students to prepare them for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations along with health occupations. The TeamWorks competition is comprised of carpentry, masonry, electrical wiring and plumbing. 

The Adairsville Team was made up of four students each performing one of the categories. Upon arriving at Nationals in Kansas City, the students were given the task of creating an 8-feet-by-9-feet “man cave,” or a man’s home theatre room that usually includes extra sound equipment, lights and a wet bar. 

The students framed the room, used brick and vinyl on a wall, ran the wiring for the lights, TV and sound, plus installed the plumbing for a drain at the bar. They also had to wire the panel box. 

“It was great. I looked at the projects by the other teams and I felt like we had won but, (but) you never know how the judges will score you,” Construction Instructor and SkillsUSA advisor Barry Arrington said in a press release. 

Last year, the Adairsville team placed ninth at Nationals. 

“We won this year and outperformed everyone else,” said Arrington. “The difference was the dedication of the team, Barry Arrington II, Dylan Jones, Christian Metroka and Rodney West, who started preparing in summer 2012.” 

Three of the four—all but West—will return to the team for the 2013-2014 school year. West, who was a senior, has since graduated and is studying healthcare. 

This year’s team is comprised of all seniors. The club plans to focus not only on group competitions but also spend more time on individual competition skills. 

Earlier this month, the winning team was honored by Gov. Nathan Deal and State Superintendent Dr. John Barge at the Georgia State Capital. 

AHS' Skills USA Club includes 50 students, who study and compete in a variety of fields from cosmetology, engineering, automotive to healthcare. In the spring, students are set to compete in their individual career study plus any team events.

 “I want our students to have an entry level knowledge that they can get a job in their field or go on for further education,” Arrington added. “If they go on to a more in-depth study in college, they will be ready.” 

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