San Antonio College Dental Assisting student Cynthia Waits placed 3rd in the nation and Engineering Technologies (Electronics) student Ryan Gernsbacher placed 6th in the nation in the SkillsUSA College/Postsecondary Division at the Skills USA National Leadership and Skills Conference held June 23-28 in Kansas City, Mo.
  
Both students won two gold medals in state competition, the second successive gold medal year for Gernsbacher, who also placed 8th in national competition last year.
  
The conference is a showcase of career and technical education students, with nearly 5,000 competing in 84 hands-on skill and leadership activities.  SkillsUSA is a national organization with the goal of providing experiences for students in leadership, teamwork, citizenship and character development.
  
Named an “Exemplary Program” by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, the San Antonio College Dental Assisting Program offers an Associate of Applied Science degree and certification.  The Electronics Engineering Program offers an Associate of Applied Science degree as well as preparation for transfer to four-year institutions.
  
According to their website at http://www.skillsusa.org/about/index.shtml, “SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled work force.  We help each student excel.”
  
The Office of Student Life sponsored the students’ travel to the conference with Student Activity fee funds.  For more information, call the Dental Assisting office at 785-6184 or the Engineering Technologies office at 733-2930.  For information about the Skills USA competition visit http://www.skillsusa.org/.

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