Southern Regional Technical College (SRTC) welcomed approximately 135 students, educators, industry partners, and guests to its Moultrie Campus on October 16 for the college’s inaugural Trades Challenge, giving high school students an opportunity to put their technical skills to the test while exploring careers in the skilled trades.
The event brought 73 competitors and 65 spectators to campus, with students representing 4C Academy, Baconton Community Charter School, Baker County High School, Cairo High School, Colquitt County High School, Lee County High School, Mitchell County High School, Southwest Georgia Academy, Thomas County Central High School, Tift County High School, Turner County High School, and Worth County High School.
Students competed in six trade areas: Air Conditioning Technology, Automotive Technology, Carpentry, Electrical Systems Technology, Plumbing, and Welding and Joining Technology. The Trades Challenge was designed to give students a low-pressure opportunity to practice their skills ahead of regional skills competitions while also introducing students from across South Georgia to SRTC’s programs, instructors, and Moultrie Campus.
Throughout the morning, competitors completed hands-on challenges designed to test technical knowledge, workmanship, safety, and skills specific to their respective trade areas.
In the Air Conditioning Technology competition, students interpreted residential HVAC electrical schematics, selected appropriate wire sizes and overcurrent protection based on equipment specifications and industry standards, wired a functional heat pump training board, and verbally explained the sequence of operation as the system moved through heating, cooling, and defrost modes. The competition was judged by Kelvin Snell, SRTC Design and Construction Division Chair, with prizes donated by Wilco Supply Co. Roman Walker of SRTC-Moultrie earned first place, Edgar Rivera of SRTC-Moultrie earned second place, and Seth Womble of SRTC-Moultrie earned third place.
The Automotive Technology competition consisted of a 50-question exam featuring ASE-style questions and five hands-on tasks covering brakes, steering and suspension, electrical systems, engine performance, and wheels and tires. Willie DeBruce, SRTC Automotive Division Chair, served as judge, and prizes were donated by Snap-on, O’Reilly Auto Parts, AutoZone, and NAPA. Rider Abbott of Tift County High School earned first place, and Javier Vazquez of Tift County High School earned second place.
In the Carpentry competition, students were given plans for a three-wall structure consisting of a front, right, and left wall. The structure included a doorway, window, and roof rafter with a 5/12 pitch. Competitors had two hours and a set amount of materials to construct the structure and properly connect the walls. The competition was judged by Scott Penuel, SRTC Construction faculty, with prizes donated by Holman’s Supply. Hieu Lam of Lee County High School earned first place, Alberto Gomez of Cairo High School earned second place, and John Hernandez of Cairo High School earned third place.
The Electrical Systems Technology competition consisted of three progressively challenging rounds. Students began by wiring two three-way switches to control a light. In the second round, competitors incorporated two three-way switches and a four-way switch. The final round required students to complete a bathroom electrical layout featuring a GFCI receptacle, switch, light, and receptacle protected by the GFCI. Competitors were evaluated on overall workmanship, grounding, wire preparation, proper connections, interpretation of the provided plans, and safe work practices. Dominic Myers and George Pressley Jr. of Metro Power served as judges, and prizes were donated by City Electric Supply. Moises Luna of Colquitt County High School earned first place, Jared Blalock of Colquitt County High School earned second place, and Alan Rivera of Colquitt County High School earned third place.
The Plumbing competition consisted of four hands-on events: changing a water heater element, building and installing a toilet, completing a bathroom rough-in, and pipe soldering. Competitors were evaluated on factors including safety, proper installation, accuracy, workmanship, leak prevention, and organization. Representatives from McBrayer Plumbing served as judges, and prizes were donated by City Electric Supply Moultrie. Cason McClelland of Colquitt County High School earned first place, Dane Rogers of Lee County High School earned second place, and Charlotte Fischer of Colquitt County High School earned third place.
The Welding and Joining Technology competition included 31 competitors who were tasked with welding a box according to a provided print using Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) processes. Competitors also completed a 25-question written test covering welding knowledge. Juan Hagstrom of Centek Marine and Robert Trudelle of the American Welding Society served as judges. Jones Welding, Hurst Boiler, the SRTC/AWS Student Chapter, and the American Welding Society assisted with prizes, while The Home Depot donated 40 five-gallon buckets for students to store their materials. Cason Roberts of Worth County High School earned first place, Tucker Willock of Lee County High School earned second place, and William Nesbitt of Lee County High School earned third place.
In addition to competing, students had the opportunity to interact with employers and industry representatives during a career fair. Participating businesses and organizations included Ace Electric, Oil-Dri, the City of Thomasville, Centek Marine, Jones Welding, City Electric Supply, the American Welding Society, Thomasville Police Department, Central Plumbing, Metro Power, Tamlite, Hurst Boiler, and McBrayer Plumbing.
“The Trades Challenge gave these students an opportunity to take the skills they have been developing in the classroom and put them into practice in a competitive, hands-on environment,” said Stephen Mathis, Dean of SRTC’s School of Industrial Technology. “It was also an opportunity for students to connect with our instructors and industry partners and see the career possibilities available to them in the skilled trades. We appreciate everyone who helped make our first Trades Challenge a success.”
SRTC extends its appreciation to the businesses, organizations, instructors, judges, and industry partners who contributed their time and resources to make the inaugural Trades Challenge possible and provide students with an opportunity to demonstrate their skills, connect with industry, and learn more about careers in the skilled trades.
Southern Regional Technical College offers over 150 degree, diploma, and certificate programs that are designed to get students quickly into their desired careers, and 38 general education courses that transfer to the University System of Georgia institutions and 19 private colleges and universities in Georgia. SRTC has instructional sites located in eleven counties across Southwest Georgia for the convenience of its students. The College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). SACSCOC is the regional body for the accreditation of degree-granting higher education institutions in the Southern states. For the most up-to-date information on registration, class dates, and program offerings, interested individuals can log on to www.southernregional.edu or call (888) 205-3449.
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