Early College Opportunity High School automotive students brought home gold, silver and bronze in auto collision technology at the statewide Skills USA competition March 27-29 in Albuquerque.
When senior Hernan Salas heard his name called as the 1st place winner, he said, “It felt amazing. I was nervous not knowing if I would even place.”
The competition was conducted at an auto body shop in Albuquerque; Salas said it was interesting to see people in the shop working on cars. He added that he would consider a career in auto body repair because it is hands-on work.
In addition to Salas, who attends Capital High and takes the auto body class at ECO in the afternoons, the four other ECO students who entered the competition all placed in auto collision technology.
Chris Coriz, ECO’s auto body technology instructor, said the students who competed spent extra time in the shop after school and on weekends practicing for the five hands-on sections plus a six-part written test.
“The freshmen who competed for the first time are a really solid group this year,” he added. “They all performed well under pressure.”
All of the competitors said Mr. Coriz prepped them well for the competition, and they were excited to participate.
2nd Place: Oskar Looft, senior, said welding was the hardest part of the competition. The honor, he said, is “definitely something to put on my resume and help get a job in auto body in the future.”
3rd Place: Damian Valerio, freshman, said placing in the competition for the first time “means my skills are fortified enough to be in the automotive industry.”
4th Place: Mekhi Gilcrease, freshman, said, “It was fun to see all the workers who have that job influencing me to do good to show my skills. I would love to compete again.”
5th Place: Ezekiel Maez, freshman, said he was well prepared for the competition. “It was fun and a good learning experience,” he said.
Freshman Julian Sena Arellano attended the competition as an observer and to help out Mr. Coriz. It was important, he said, to experience the competition “to see all the job opportunities for me in the future.”
ECO Principal Josh Rhine said he couldn’t be more proud of the students who did so well in the competition. He said, “It goes to show that hard work does pay off.”