Eight Arkansas State University-Newport students earned recognition, including five gold medals and one first place blue ribbon, at the Arkansas SkillsUSA competition held earlier this month at the Hot Springs Convention Center.
Cosmetology students Chelsea Barnett of Jonesboro, Mysti Kirkpatrick of Little Rock and Ashlyn Warren of Brookland all finished in first place, with Barnett winning the gold medal in Cosmetology. Kirkpatrick took gold in Esthetics, with Warren serving as her model. Timothy Snodgrass of Bradford earned the gold medal in Electrical Construction Wiring, Michael Conaster of Trumann won the gold in Information Technology Services and Kadie Hollis of Parkin won a blue ribbon in the Mannequin Display (makeup) competition.
All of ASUN’s gold medalists will now advance to the National SkillsUSA competition this summer in Louisville, Ky.
Other medalists for ASU-Newport at the Arkansas SkillsUSA competition were Allison Light of Jonesboro who won the silver medal in Cosmetology, and David Vickers, who finished third to take home the bronze medal in Electrical Construction Wiring.
SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA helps each student excel, and is a national nonprofit organization serving teachers and high school and college students who are preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations, including health occupations.