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Cougar Cry
WCC Students Shine at Statewide Competition
Wilkes Community College's Industrial,
Engineering and Customized Industry Training
Division students recently took top honors in
five categories at the Skills USA North Carolina
competition that was held at the Greensboro
Coliseum Annex.
Skills USA is a partnership of students, teachers,
and industry representatives, working together
to ensure America has a skilled work force. It
helps each student excel. Skills USA is a national
nonprofit organization serving teachers and high
school and college students who are preparing
for careers in trade, technical, and skilled service
occupations, including health occupations. It was
formerly known as VICA (Vocational Industrial
Clubs of America).
In 2005, Automotive Systems Technology
instructor Hardin Kennedy organized and
developed the Wilkes Community Skills USA
Club. In 2006, Wilkes Community College was
represented at the state and national competition
in its first year of competing with 12 students
from various engineering technology disciplines
displaying their knowledge and skills. From 2005
to 2007, club membership at WCC has grown
to approximately 150 students. This growth
was evident at Greensboro this year with 27
students competing while 25 others observed and
gained valuable knowledge from evaluating and
benchmarking their statewide peers.
When the competition began this year with
students showcasing their presentation, technical
and leadership skills in various technology and
trades sectors, the WCC students exerted a
magnificent effort by winning 23 medals overall
during the competition. To cap off those awards.
there were 5 first place winners
who will have an opportunity to
compete on a national level in late
June in Kansas City. The first place
winners were:
Architectural Technology
Joel Clonch
Automotive Systems Technology
Luke Wells
Building Construction Technology
Trevin Cooper
Computer Engineering Technology
Brandon Underwood
Building Construction Technology
Teamworks
Jeff Safely, Ryan Cox, Nathan
Moose, Nick Adams
Kennedy was elated for the
students.“I am very proud of
our students for their success in
their trade areas. WCC Skills
USA Club gives our students an
opportunity to showcase their
skills at the state level.” Additionally, Kennedy
expressed his appreciation from the community
and business support by stating, "A big thank
you goes out to our community supporters who
helped make this event possible. Businesses
that helped make this financially possible were:
General Motors Service and Parts Managers
Association, Empire Chrysler, Mike's Body Shop,
Blue Ridge Tractor, David s Car Care, and Myers
Tire."
John Hauser, Dean of the Industrial, Engineering
and Customized Industry Training Division,
echoed and praised Kennedy’s efforts. “I am
extremely proud of the industrial and engineering
technology students. We have very intelligent,
skilled, and talented students in the IE & CIT
Division which is a direct reflection upon the
high quality of instruction that is provided by
our faculty in the IE & CIT Division. This
competition validates that the IE & CIT Division
is very strong academically as well as being
technically skilled. Our region and its economic
viability are gaining strength, and these industrial
and engineering technology students are the key
to our success.”
WCC also received another award at the
competition in addition to the student awards.
Hardin Kennedy was awarded the Skills USA
North Carolina Advisor of the Year Award
for 2007. According to Hauser,“Hardin is an
example of the type of leadership that the faculty
possesses in the IE & CIT Division. Hardin
is committed to excellence and his efforts of
coordinating, planning, and leading the Skills
USA Club is one of many valuable attributes that
he provides to WCC."
As the industrial and engineering technology
students prepare to enter the national competition
in June, Wilkes Community College will be well
represented in Kansas City with students from
Wilkes, Ashe, and Alleghany counties. To leam
more about the Skills USA Club and the national
competition, please contact Hardin Kennedy at
336-838-6219.
Goofy Warning Labels For Your Contemplation
Here are some of the wackiest warning labels of
the past few years according to the Michigan Law
Suit Abuse Watch Web site (www.mlaw.org.):
• A label on a baby stroller warns: “Remove child
before folding."
• A brass fishing lure with a three-pronged hook
on the end warns: “Harmful if swallowed.”
• A popular scooter for children warns: "This
product moves when used."
• A 9x3'inch bag of air used as packing material
cautions: “Do not use this product as a toy, pillow,
or flotation device."
• A flushable toilet brush warns; “Do not use for
personal hygiene.”
• The label on an electric hand blender promoted
for use in “blending, whipping, chopping and
dicing," warns: "Never remove food or other items
from the blades while the product is operating.”
♦ A digital thermometer that can be used to take
a persons temperature several different ways
warns: “Once used rectally, the thermometer
should not be used orally."
♦ A household iron warns users: “Never iron
clothes while they are being worn."
♦ A label on a hair dryer reads, “Never use hair
dryer while sleeping."
♦ A warning on an electric drill made for
carpenters cautions: “This product not intended
for use as a dental drill."
♦ The label on a bottle of drain cleaner warns:
"If you do not understand, or cannot read, all
directions, cautions and warnings, do not use this
product.”
♦ A smoke detector warns: “Do not use the
Silence Feature in emergency situations. It will
not extinguish a fire."
♦ A massage chair warns: "DO NOT use massage
chair without clothing... and, NEVER force any
body part into the backrest area while the rollers
are moving."
♦ A cardboard car sunshield that keeps sun
off the dashboard warns, “Do not drive with
sunshield in place."
♦ An“Aim-n-Flame" fireplace lighter cautions.
Do not use near fire, flame or sparks"
♦ A label on a hand-held massager advises
consumers not to use “while sleeping or
unconscious."
♦ A 12-inch rack for storing compact disks
warns: “Do not use as a ladder.”
♦ A cartridge for a laser printer warns, “Do not
eat toner.”
♦ A 13-inch wheel on a wheelbarrow warns: "Not
intended for highway use.”
♦ A can of self-defense pepper spray warns users:
“May irritate eyes."
♦ A warning on a pair of shin guards
manufactured for bicyclists says: “Shin pads
cannot protect any part of the body they do not
cover.”
♦ A snow blower warns: “Do not use snow
thrower on roof”
♦ A dishwasher carries this warning:"Do not
allow children to play in the dishwasher.”
♦ A popular manufactured fireplace log warns:
“Caution—Risk of Fire.”
♦ A box of birthday cake candles says:“DO NOT
use soft wax as ear plugs or for any other function
that involves insertion into a body cavity."