A collaborative partnership between Wexford-Missaukee Intermediate School District (ISD) and West Shore Community College is opening doors for students and leading to national recognition.
Seven students from the Wexford-Missaukee Career Technical Center (CTC) and West Shore Community College competed at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta this past summer, where more than 6,000 students from across the country showcased their technical and leadership skills.
The partnership creates a seamless pathway from high school Career and Technical Education to college through Early College programming. Two students from the CTC’s Computers, Networking, and Electronics Technology (CNET) program transferred to West Shore Community College through Early College and competed at the post-secondary level, earning national medals while representing WSCC.
“Early Middle College allows students to move confidently from high school to college without losing momentum,” said Kellon Petzak, WSCC professor of computer information technology. “I am so proud of these students competing at a national level and proving they are prepared for college coursework and high-demand IT careers.”
Three students earned national medals:
- Adrian VanHaitsma — Bronze Medal, Information Technology Services (High School Division)
- Tristan Day — Bronze Medal, Internetworking (Post-Secondary Division)
- Matthew Stilson — Gold Medal, Information Technology Services (Post-Secondary Division)
Stilson’s gold medal marks his second national championship, following a gold medal win at the high school level in 2024.
The SkillsUSA Championships are the nation’s largest workforce development event, featuring 115 hands-on skill competitions judged by industry professionals. The success of these students highlights the strength of regional partnerships in preparing learners for college, careers, and national competition.
Photo: Tristan Day, Jeremy Houser (CNET Instructor and WSCC Adjunct Instructor), Matthew Stilson