May 7, 2021 – Several Santa Fe College students in the Automotive and Plumbing programs finished with high honors at the SkillsUSA Florida competition last month. SkillsUSA is a career and technical organization serving high school and college students seeking to learn a trade. The SkillsUSA competition allows students across the country to test their skills against their peers.
In the plumbing category, SF swept the category with Ito Simon taking first place, Isaac Johnson finished second and Eric Gehler came in third adding to SF’s top marks, Nicolas Mullen finished fourth in the category. The plumbing competition had students rough-in hot and cold-water lines as well as sanitary drainage, waste and vent lines. Professional plumbers and pipefitters served as judges, reviewing the accuracy, workmanship and proper safety procedures.
SF also had three winners in the Automotive category. John Thomas, a SF dual-enrolled student, took the top spot in the high school division, while Neal Bailey and Carlos Murua took first and second respectively in the college division. These students had to perform a series of tasks based on the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) and the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF). They were judged on technical competency, accuracy, quality and safety. They also had to complete a written test to show ample knowledge.
For their first-place finishes in the statewide competition, Ito Simon, John Thomas and Neal Bailey will all go on to compete in the nationals June 14-18.
Congratulations to the students in the program and the SF faculty in plumbing and automotive technology for preparing them for success.
Students in SF’s Plumbing programs took the top four positions in the SkillsUSA Florida competition. 
Students in SF’s Automotive programs competed in the SkillsUSA Florida competition. Dual Enrolled student John Thomas (pictured) took the top spot in the high school division.