At the 18th annual Ontario Technological Skills Competition (OTSC), held in Waterloo on April 30 and May 1, Conestoga College enjoyed outstanding success as 18 students earned post-secondary level medals for their knowledge and applied skills in a variety of competition categories. The OTSC is the provinces premier showcase of the best and brightest technical students in Ontario - from secondary schools, colleges and apprenticeship training. In its two-day run this year, the OTSC involved more than 600 entrants in more than 40 competitions, and attracted nearly 20,000 visitors.
In 16 years of OTSC involvement, Conestoga students have now garnered a grand total of 156 medals. This years result consists of seven gold, two silver and nine bronze medals. No other participating Ontario college earned more than nine medals in total.
The gold-medal winners qualify to be part of Team Ontario at the Skills Canada national competition, which takes place June 6-9 in Saskatoon.
Conestogas gold medal winners are as follows:
Shawn Finan of Kitchener is a student in the General Machinist program at Conestoga and won his medal in the computer numerical control machining category.
Zachary Hewitt of Pembroke took gold in cabinetmaking. He is in the Woodworking Technology co-op program at Conestoga.
Michael Jordan of Kitchener, a student in the Electronics Engineering Technician co-op program, earned gold in the electronics event.
Michael McLellan of Mount Forest is a degree-program student in Integrated Advanced Manufacturing Technologies. His gold medal came in the event dealing with mechanical computer-aided design and drafting.
Ryan Mlodozenec of Kitchener topped the field in the industrial mechanic millwright competition, and he is in that program at Conestoga.
Cody Noble of Fergus won the precision machining event. He is in Conestoga's Tool and Die Maker program.
Pat Terwoord of Chepstow took gold in architectural computer-aided design and drafting. He studies Construction Engineering Technology - Architecture at Conestoga.
The silver medal winners are as follows:
Jamie Roberts of Kitchener is a student in the Woodworking Technology - Architectural Millwork program. He competed in the cabinetmaking event.
Andrew St. Cyr of Waterloo won his medal in welding. He is in the Manufacturing Engineering Technology - Welding and Robotics program at Conestoga.
Winning bronze medals are the following:
Dave Berg of Orillia (a student in the Mechanical Engineering Technology - Robotics and Automation program) won a medal in the mechatronics competition.
Steve Bithell of Cambridge (Construction Engineering Technology - Architecture program) took his medal in the architectural computer-aided design and drafting event.
Matt Cronin of Mitchell (Industrial Mechanic Millwright program) took third in the industrial mechanic millwright event.
Michael Da Maren of Guelph (Electrician, Construction and Maintenance program) won a medal in the industrial wiring contest.
Pred Gutovic of Kitchener (Electronics Engineering Technician co-op program) finished third in the electronics event.
Josh Kubassek of Bright (Mechanical Engineering Technology - Robotics and Automation program) won his medal in the mechanical computer-aided design and drafting competition.
Remo Schlumpf of Ethel (General Carpenter program) finished third in the carpentry - individual category.
Xander Snyder of Waterloo (Mechanical Technician - Tool and Die/Tool Maker program) won his medal in the precision machining event.
Jeffery Wemp of Waterloo (Mechanical Engineering Technology - Robotics and Automation program) took the third-place medal in the mechatronics category, as part of a two-person team with Dave Berg.
In addition to these medal performances, two other Conestoga students earned certificates of achievement in so-called demonstration categories - new categories being reviewed and considered for medal status in future events. A second-place certificate in information technology office application went to Josue Perez, a student in the Business Administration - Materials and Operations Management program, who is from Kitchener. A third-place certificate of achievement went to Mark Lebel of Brantford in truck and coach mechanic. He is in Conestogas Truck and Coach Technician program.
Also earning recognition was Linda Hart of Conestogas Co-op and Career Services department. She was one of seven Ontarians to receive from Skills Canada - Ontario a Glenn Beatty Award, for exemplary involvement in Skills Canada events and for excellence in promoting and furthering the cause of skilled trades and technology as a viable educational and career path for young Canadians.
Skills Canada is a voluntary association of educators, business and industrial leaders, and government representatives which aims to promote the value and importance of technical careers and education to young Canadians.
CONTACT: Tom Franks, 519-748-5220, ext. 3800, tfranks@conestogac.on.ca