Students compete in Occupational Olympics

More than 200 students from Calaveras and Tuolumne counties competed all morning Thursday at the 22nd annual Occupational Olympics hosted by Columbia College.

The competition is designed as an opportunity for students to showcase their work skills and “pit their talent against the best in the region,” said a press statement from the college.

Students over 16 from Bret Harte, Calaveras, Don Pedro, Sonora and Summerville high schools participated in competitions in automotive technology, child development, computer business applications, computer-assisted drafting, cosmetology, digital photography, entrepreneurship, food occupations, health occupations and welding technology.

In the food occupations competition, students had to prepare either a salad or pie and were judged on its design or presentation, said Gene Womble, college Hospitality Management Program department chairman. Students also competed to see who could carve a duck out of an apple the best and fastest.

“I think it’s pretty cool,” said Lauren Babros, 16, of Sonora High, as she made the finishing touches on her apple pie. “It gives kids a chance to try things.”

Cosmetology participants had an hour to comb out their model’s hair and create a “ball gown” hairstyle. Models were also dressed in formal wear.
  

“They’re going to look quite glamorous,” said Judy Reiman, of office technology, who was proctoring the competition.

Competitions were judged by college personnel, area educators, college students and industry professionals. John Cudia, of The Car Doctor in Murphys, has been a judge for 13 years in the automotive portion and this year was a co-organizer with Ken Sooter, of Sooter’s Auto Service in Sonora.

The automotive technology competition was a bit different this year than years prior, Cudia said. Previously, each high school group split into teams and high schools competed against other schools. This year, there were 10 teams of four students and students were grouped with kids from other schools, who they did not know.

“Actually, it worked out well,” Cudia said.

The welding technology competition saw the largest turnout of students they’ve had, said Mack Frost, of the college’s welding technology program. There were more than 30 students.

An awards ceremony at Carkeet Park, near the Oak Pavilion, followed the competition. Dave Urquhart, Summerville High principal, served as master of ceremonies and awards were presented by Summerville Union High School District and Twain Harte-Long Barn Union School District Superintendent John Keiter and Calaveras Unified Superintendent Jim Frost.

The event was sponsored by Partners in Education, Tuolumne County Office of Education, Calaveras County Office of Education and Columbia College.