Ranken Technical College recently sent a three-man Automated Manufacturing Technology team to compete in the National Skills USA competition, and they came home with the gold! Second-year Precision Machining Technology students Bob Haas (no relation to the manufacturer) and Doug Funfsinn. along with first-year student Trent Carman, qualified to compete at the national level in this year's competition, held in Kansas City June 25-29. The day of the competition the team was tasked with creating a part from specifications given to them by SkillsUSA. During the 8-hour event Bob Haas designed the part, Doug Funfsinn generated the tool paths and Trent Carman operated the CNC machinery to create the part.  The team was judged not only on their technical skills but also were graded on their teamwork, verbal and written communication including all paperwork required for the project.

The Ranken team took first place over 13 other post-secondary teams and 30 secondary teams. The team members are the national champions and each won manufacturing software valued at around $12,000.

SkillsUSA 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. It is a partnership of students, teachers and industry representatives working together to ensure America has a skilled work force. Only about 2% of students participating in SkillsUSA make it to the yearly national. This was Ranken's second year sending a team to this event.

Picture caption: L to R, Trent Carman, Bob Haas and Doug Funfsinn, students at Ranken Technical College in St. Louis Missouri, are pictured with their first-place medals for winning the national Skills USA Automated Manufacturing Technology competition.