In February, the HVAC department hosted the District 1 Skills USA event for the cities of Chesapeake, Norfolk, and Virginia Beach. The SkillsUSA competition sees the best and brightest from local vocational schools test their practical skills and academic knowledge against each other in areas of troubleshooting, theory, pipe fabrication, and academics. The competition also includes a mock job interview conducted by Director of Student Services, Kirk Clayton.
Judges this year included Mike Bartz, Will Jones, Ben Lloyd and Marty Weast. Garrett Jennings, former ATI HVAC instructor, and Anita Phillips volunteered their time as well.
The winner of the District 1 competition moves on to the State event in Fredericksburg in April. ATI’s HVAC department will chair that competition as well. Next year, for the first time, ATI is honored to host the State event at the ATI Miller Store Road campus.
David Philpott, HVAC Program Coordinator
