Diesel Technology Students Earn SkillsUSA Medals

May 6, 2021

Left to right - Kaleb Rupprecht, Jack Samuelson and Bailey SwitzerThe diesel technology program at รศรรสำฦต-Hastings had a good showing in two SkillsUSA state test competitions.

In the ag and construction diesel tech competition, a new competition this year, Jack Samuelson (center) of Hastings took first place while Bailey Switzer (right) of Clay Center took second place and Kaleb Rupprecht (left) of Diller took third place. For being the top finisher, Samuelson received a tap and die set courtesy of the Iowa-Nebraska Equipment Dealers Association (INEDA) and Landmark Implement.

In the truck diesel tech competition, Michael Dahl (right) of Hastings won first place while Jakob Ratliff (left) of Scottsbluff finished in second place.

Left to right - Jakob Ratliff and Michael Dahlโ€œWe are extremely proud of our students and how well they competed in the SkillsUSA competitions,โ€ said Jeff Bexten, program director. โ€œOur diesel technology SkillsUSA advisers Randy Manning, Dustin McCord and Raece Paulsen did an excellent job in generating excitement for the competition.โ€

The state competition was held remotely this year after being canceled in 2020 due to COVID.

โ€œThe students were glad to see the competition back this year,โ€ said Bexten. โ€œWe are all grateful to those who made this yearโ€™s competition possible.โ€

Bexten specifically mentioned Ron Gans of Landmark Implement, Will Rogers of INEDA and Jeff Switzer of the Nebraska Army National Guard for working to bring back the SkillsUSA state competition.