Ethan Dolgowicz, Wadsworth High School Senior, competed in the SkillsUSA Ohio Regional Automotive Service Competition and placed first. The competition took place on February 17.
A Skills USA competition is held for all career tech programs. They offer opportunities for students like making connections with employers and receiving scholarships.
“The competition is a series of stations that represent a challenge you might face in the automotive industry,” Dolgowicz said. “You may have to perform the correct procedure to diagnose and fix the problem or just explain how it would be done.”
This was Dolgowicz’s first time competing in the SkillsUSA competition.
“My favorite part is seeing what challenge is given for you to solve,” Dolgowicz said.
Participants in the competition must travel from station to station, with twelve minutes at each station. They must use problem solving skills to figure out what is required for the car at each station.
“He has to be able to look at what’s wrong to be able to come up with a plan in his head of how to diagnose what is wrong with whatever system on the car and go about it in a methodical way,” said Mr. Peter Alexander, the Automotive Technologies Instructor at WHS.
Students do not know what they will be asked to do at the stations.
“We can’t do all that much practice to prepare for the competition but Mr. Alexander and I did some review on certain subjects including engine measurements, scan tool procedures, and electrical wiring,” Dolgowicz said.
This is the first time Dolgowicz has competed in the SkillsUSA Ohio competition. Only one student from the program is permitted to compete each year. WHS has been participating in this competition for about ten years.
Dolgowicz will go on to compete at the state level in Columbus, Ohio.
“It feels great that I am able to exhibit my talent and perform for our compact,” Dolgowicz said. “It feels even better being the winner of the regional competition and I am excited for states.”
