Miller Career & Technology Students Named National Champions in MechatronicsFor two Katy Independent School District students, giving up part of their summer vacation was well worth it after landing a spot in the 2021 SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference. Even more rewarding was that after several levels of competition, against students from across the nation, Katy ISD Miller Career & Technology (MCTC) Students Daniel White and Levend Karayaka were named National Champions in SkillsUSA Mechatronics. Throughout the school year, both students competed at various levels of mechatronics (mechanical and electrical engineering) competitions, including first at region and second at the state level.While getting to nationals was a challenge in itself, the two students were tasked with showcasing a design solution to a judge virtually from the MCTC manufacturing lab to adhere to safety protocols for the national event. Both students were presented with a task that required an automated system setup. “The Katy ISD SkillsUSA chapter is a fairly new group of students who came together during the 2019-2020 school year. In total we have 45 students who are part of the group, many of which qualified at various competitions throughout the year," said Dallas Bergstrom, MCTC Instructor of Manufacturing Engineering. “I am so proud of their willingness to try something new. To earn a national championship on their first attempt speaks to their commitment to representing MCTC and Katy ISD," added Bergstrom. Thousands of students competed in over 100 occupational and leadership skill areas at the annual event that included educational sessions as well as interaction with business, industry and government representatives. Driven by employer demand, SkillsUSA helps students develop necessary personal and workplace skills along with technical skills grounded in academics. The goal of SkillsUSA events is to empower students to succeed at work and in life while helping to close the skills gap in which millions of industry positions go unfilled. Picture on Top Left to Right: Daniel White & Levend Karayaka, National Champions for SkillsUSA MechatronicsPicture on Bottom Left to Right: Levend Karayaka and Daniel White at MCTC Manufacturing Lab