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North students win tech skills contest Three go to national meet this summer By VICKI GUARINO Three North Medford High School students took first place in a statewide technology skills competition, earning a place at a national meet this summer. The event, the Oregon Skills Olympics, was held March 16 at Lane Community College in Eugene. About 800 high school students competed in events ranging from computer repair to sheet-metal work. The winner in each event goes to the national competition, sponsored by Vocational and Industrial Clubs of America, says NMHS skills competition adviser Skip Magee. Junior Jeff Sedey won the cabinet making competition, Magee says, building a nightstand within the five-hour time limit. Junior Chris Villeneuve won the computer applications category. Contestants had to diagnose and de-bug various software programs. Senior Adam Gretzinger won in computer maintenance technology, repairing four broken computers within a four-hour time limit. This will be Adam's second trip to the VICA national competition, says Magee, a technical arts teacher. Last year Adam placed 11th nationally. This year, Magee says, Adam has a strong chance of winning because he has the experience of the competition behind him. "You get the jitters out of you," Magee says. "A lot of kids get real nervous. He's not nervous at all." Some 8,000 students, all of them the state winners in their specialty, come together for VICA's national event. Adam also has job experience to help him compete. Besides being a student, he is employed by the Medford School District as a computer troubleshooter. Over the years, North students have collected six first-place wins at the national olympics, Magee adds. Winners competed in a variety of skills, including photography, job interviewing and culinary arts. "I feel real fortunate," Magee says. "We have several good teachers involved." North also had several top finishers in the Oregon Skills Olympics. Other finishers were: Adam Passey, junior, and Josh Gilbert, sophomore, third and sixth place respectively in graphic communication, which tests a variety of printing related skills. Matt Havnier, junior, fourth place in sheet metal, making a sheet metal box to specific dimensions within a time limit. Rob Little, junior, second place in cabinet making, behind classmate Jeff Sedey. Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA