Silver-medal winners at the Vocational Industrial Clubs of America National Skill Olympics were (from left) Ryan O'Leary, Peter Distefano and Christopher Dean.
By Shari Kaplan
Two Los Gatos High School students and one recent graduate returned in June bearing the silver medals they earned at the Vocational Industrial Clubs of America National Skill Olympics, held in Kansas City, Mo.
1996 graduate Christopher Dean and soon-to-be seniors Peter Distefano and Ryan O'Leary, members of the high school's two-year-old VICA chapter, made it through regional and state competitions related to industrial technology before qualifying to compete in Kansas City.
The three young men competed in the the secondary division for Automated Manufacturing; a total of 54 occupational and leadership skills areas were tested in this 32nd annual National Skill Olympics. Participating students also act as voting delegates for the state, elect national officers and meet with business and industry representatives and government officials. This year's general-session speaker was astronaut James Lovell, Apollo 13 team member and author of Lost Moon.
According to Los Gatos High industrial arts teacher and VICA chapter adviser Ron Cassel, the national competition consisted of an eight-hour skills test during which team members had to develop a mold in which a hand-held calendar/calculator could be produced. Upon receiving the sketch and dimensions, O'Leary studied them and created a computer-assisted drawing.
Dean then took this CAD in file format and developed both the machine tool path to cut out the part and the program needed for a computer-controlled machine to actually manufacture the product.
Distefano was the machinist and team anchor, who produced the item, performed quality-control inspection and sent it to the competition's judges. Along with the finished product, speed, accuracy and proper documentation of work were among the judges' criteria.
"This competition crosses through variety of disciplines including the use of technology, science, mathematics [and] English. Critical-thinking skills really paid off for these winners," Cassel said.
Comments he heard about his students from National Technical Committee Automated Manufacturing host, Dick McManus, included "they were extremely competitive" and "they are outstanding examples of young America at work."
VICA is a national organization that serves students of trade, industrial, technical and health occupations in public high schools, vocational centers, area vocational schools, two-year colleges and universities. VICA programs promote leadership, teamwork, high work ethics and skills and understanding of the free-enterprise system. Students are also encouraged to get involved in community-service activities.
This article appeared in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, July 17, 1996.
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