NEWPORT — Five North Country Career Center mechatronics students earned medals at the SkillsUSA Vermont Skills and Leadership Conference earlier this month.
Students competed at the Vermont Technical College Randolph campus in Additive Manufacturing and Engineering Technology Design.
Students Cayde Micknak, Ryder Richardson, and Max Roberts earned gold medals with their design about supplemental charging on electric vehicles.
The team of three made their own 3D CAD files, 3D printed prototypes, gearboxes, utilized electric meters, and incorporated industry feedback from Corey Marquis of Marquis Electric.
Marquis was able to provide some great ideas thanks to his electrical engineering background.
Their achievement earns them a trip to Atlanta, Georgia the week of June 21, 2022, where they will compete against gold medalists from across the nation.
They will be accompanied by their teacher, Hazen Converse.
Alyssa Banuelos and Christopher Dagesse earned bronze medals in the additive manufacturing contest.
Additive Manufacturing involves several design challenges using CAD software and 3D printing to make a variety of prototypes.
Converse’s lab incorporates several state-of-the-art industry-grade 3D printers, allowing students to create very detailed and involved projects.
The previous day, another cohort attended the conference where they met the national director, Chelle Travis, and engaged in leadership and self-development activities with keynote motivational speakers, Joe Fingerhut and Frank Kitchen.
North Country Career Center’s chapter was awarded the Chapter Quality Award for their efforts.
