Four D99 Students Named SkillsUSA State Champions

Submitted by Community High School District 99.

Downers Grove, IL - On April 23, District 99 students traveled to Springfield to compete at the 2016 SkillsUSA Illinois State Championships.

Downers Grove South High student Jon Guttello is state champion in Architectural CAD Drawing; students Jon Urgello and Matt Wiechec are state champions in Mobile Robotics. Downers Grove North High student Pradeep Kumar Senthil is the state champion in Computer Programming. All four students received a gold medal, and have qualified to compete at the National Conference in Louisville, Kentucky in June.

“The SkillsUSA competitions are incredibly technical and highly competitive,” says North High teacher and sponsor Christy Tajak. “Each contest is judged based on precise technical standards, which have been created by business and industry experts and leaders.” North High teacher Katelyn Kordecki is also a sponsor. Click here to see photos of the North High students.

“The pride that these students feel after a weekend of competition is a memory they will never forget,” says Mark Molinari, South High teacher and sponsor. “These students are continuing the tradition of excellence we have here at District 99.” In addition to Molinari, South High teachers Mark Mueller, Jeff Schram and Jennifer Niendorf are sponsors. Click here to see photos of the South High students.

The following students participated and placed in the 2016 SkillsUSA Illinois State Championships:

Architectural CAD Drawing (DGS Students)

State Champion – Jon Guttello

2nd Place – Ethan Witt

3rd Place – Chris Pry

Tie 4th Place – Goda Narakaite

Tie 4th Place – Emily Pulido

5th Place – Marcelo Avila

7th Place – Allison Adams

10th Place – Emily Zaprianov

Mobile Robotics (DGS Students)

State Champions – Team - Jon Urgello and Matt Wiechec

3D Visualization & Animation (DGS Students)

3rd Place – William Richert and Emily Pulido

5th Place – Bradley Miskus

8th Place – Russell Pluhar – 3D Visualization and Animation

Computer Programming (DGN Students)

State Champion - Pradeep Kumar Senthil

7th Place - Mohammed Zaiduddin

Engineering Technology (DGN Students)

7th Place - Zachary Busch, Kathleen Halloran, and Jacob Drobnik

SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to help each student excel and to ensure America has a skilled workforce. The 100 different trade, technical and leadership contests are run with the help of industry, trade associations and labor organizations. Learn more atwww.skillsusa.org.