Grain Valley graduate takes national title in Mobile Electronics Installation

Tanner Todd's high school career didn't end when he walked the stage in May for graduation. Weeks later, he traveled to Atlanta, Georgia with four fellow students from the Career & Technology Center at Fort Osage to compete in the SkillsUSA National contest. They joined over 6,000 students from around the country.

"When Tanner came to CTC, he had no clue what SkillsUSA was," Auto Tech II instructor Bill Lieb said. "Wasn't too interested," adds Auto Tech I instructor Bryan Compton with a laugh. "So for him to go from nothing to national makes it even more impressive."

Tanner achieved first place in Mobile Electronics Installation. The contest includes a professional interview, a written exam, and five hands-on tests, including taking electrical measurements, installing consumer electronics equipment in a mobile environment, soldering, working with relay circuits, and troubleshooting electronic circuitry. He's kicking off his fall semester at Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City studying computer and electronics engineering, and will continue on to the University of Missouri-Kansas City to complete his undergraduate degree. 

"Tanner's our second student in two years to take home the national title in Mobile Electronics Installation," Lieb shares. "Last year Jake Mickelson achieved the Gold Medal, and he's also from Grain Valley. We're looking to continue the trend this year, and we have some great students poised to do more great things."

CTC students Braylen Still of Blue Springs South, Carson Davis of Grain Valley, Cade Marsey of Blue Springs, and Nora McDaniel of Fort Osage also competed in crime scene investigation, automotive technology, and computer engineering, earning 5th through 19th place in their respective categories. Braylen, Carson, and Nora are continuing on to the Coast Guard, Pitt State, and UCM. Cade is returning to CTC for his senior year. 

"It was a tremendous year for CTC SkillsUSA," CTC Director Susie Suits says. "Five incredible students making it that far, a national champion. They are the definition of student success."

Photo credit: CTC