Students in the Lahainaluna High School SkillsUSA Program last month competed at the 2015 Career Technical Student Organization Convention at the Hawaii Convention Center on Oahu.

LAHAINA – Two students in the Lahainaluna High School SkillsUSA Program are raising money to travel to Kentucky in June to compete in the National Leadership and Skills Convention.

Christian Yagyagan and Malama Cabagua qualified to compete in Louisville on June 20-27 at the recent 2015 Career Technical Student Organization Convention at the Hawaii Convention Center on Oahu.

At the event, students competed in various technical skills competitions. LHS students entered the Architectural Drafting and Automotive Service Technology contests.

Students in Architectural Drafting were asked to use technical drafting skills and computer aided design (CAD) technology to solve a real world problem. They were given eight hours to complete a floor plan, interior and exterior elevations, roof plan, wall section detail and window and door schedules. They also took a 50-question general knowledge exam.

Lahainaluna junior Yagyagan won the event and earned a ticket to the National Leadership and Skills Convention. Juniors Warren Tapec and Caitlyn Villatora placed third and fourth, respectively. Their advisor at LHS is Mike Sado.

In the Automotive Service Technology competition, students demonstrate their ability to perform jobs and skills based on a task list outlined by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence and the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation.

Contestants are judged on technical competency, accuracy, safety and the ability to follow instructions. There were 13 skills stations, including a written test.

LHS senior Cabagua and junior Andrew Vicente competed in the Automotive Service Technology event. Cabagua finished third; Maui High School students placed first and second, and when they declined to attend the national event in June, Cabagua was asked to represent Hawaii in Louisville. Their advisor is Jay Ramos.

“To compete at the National SkillsUSA competition in Louisville, Kentucky, qualifiers Christian Yagyagan and Malama Cabagua will need to come up with travel and lodging expenses that amount to about $1,700 for each participant. The students are humbly asking for the community’s financial support in helping curb this cost,” Sado noted.

For information, or to make a donation, contact Sado at 662-3979, extension 281, or e-mail michael_sado@notes.k12.hi.us.