BCC senior Ryan Smith Jr. wins gold
Buckeye Career Center senior Ryan Smith Jr. won a gold medal in the criminal justice SE regional competition of Skills USA Ohio on March 4 at the Knox County Career Center in Mount Vernon.
Buckeye Career Center senior Ryan Smith Jr. won a gold medal in the criminal justice SE regional competition of Skills USA Ohio on March 4 at the Knox County Career Center in Mount Vernon.
The career championship events showcase the best career and technical students in the nation. For the contest the criminal justice competitors were placed in simulated situations where they demonstrated patrol procedures in the areas of traffic reports, traffic accidents, arrests and subject searches.
They also were interviewed by contest judges. Standards are set to evaluate each contestant’s preparation for employment and to recognize outstanding students for excellence and professionalism in the field of law enforcement.
Smith, son of Rebekah and Ryan Smith, Sr., is passionate about his schooling and criminal justice career.
“I took ownership of being chosen to represent Buckeye,” he said. “In addition to thorough class preparation by Mr. Myers, our instructor, I met with trooper Oszust of the Ohio State Highway Patrol and K-9 Unit Sgt. Brian Bernhart of the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office. They were a great help. I was excited to win the gold, but it was an eye-opening experience because I realize the standards are really high, and I have a lot more to learn before the state contest in Columbus.”
Before attending Buckeye Career Center, Smith was a student in the East Holmes Local School District for grades k-10, attending Walnut Creek Elementary and Hiland.
Smith is a probationary firefighter with Holmes Fire District #1 in Millersburg, where his father is a lieutenant fireman and advanced EMT. Smith has taken karate, Instruments of Freedom self-defense with Wallace Lytele, instruction in firearms and crossbow, and won awards for his marksmanship. He also participated in a QDMA hunt with Mark Schlabach and Whitetail Heritage of Ohio.
Smith plans to complete fire and EMT school through Holmes Fire District #1 after graduation, with a long-term goal of being a state patrolman and then pursuing a career in the U.S. Marshall Service with the Fugitive Task Force.
Smith said his tenure at Buckeye Career Center and his involvement in SkillsUSA have changed his life. SkillsUSA’s history has a connection to Smith as an Ohio resident, as it was the first state in 1951 to be part of the Vocational Industrial Clubs of America. In 1999 VICA was renamed SkillsUSA. Ohio serves more than 34,000 students and teachers in more than 300 chapters across the state.
Ohio’s SE Region is one of six and includes Belmont Career Center, Buckeye Career Center, Buckeye Trail High School, C-TEC High School, Coshocton County Career Center, Hocking Technical College, Jefferson County JVS, Knox County Career Center, Meigs High School, Mid-East Career & Technology Centers-Z, Mid-East Career and Technology Centers, Morgan High School, Swiss Hills Career Center, Tri-County Career Center, Warren High School, Washington County JVS, Central High School, Columbus State Community College, First Impressions Dental Assisting and New Albany High School.
Rick Strimbu is the SkillsUSA program director at Buckeye Career Center. His students earned 11 gold medals, two silver medals and one bronze medal.
The SkillsUSA Framework is a multi-faceted program. SkillsUSA is an applied method of learning where students practice skills and build self-confidence while helping their schools and communities. The SkillsUSA Framework illustrates how students fulfill the mission of the organization to empower members to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens.
It creates a common language for members and delivers a specific skill set that is demanded by businesses and industries. The framework ensures every student member receives the same set of skills by providing experiences in leadership, teamwork, citizenship and character development. The program emphasizes high ethical standards, superior work skills, lifelong education and pride.
Jackie Walker, executive director for SkillsUSA Ohio, is attuned to how a student’s involvement in this program is beneficial.
“I have been a part of this for 22 years, starting as a technical student myself,” Walker said. “The reason why I shifted from nursing back to career and technical education is because I have never seen a program change the lives of students like this one does.”
Smith will head to Columbus to compete in the SkillsUSA Ohio state competition April 24-26 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. Participants test their skills, frequently make job contacts and have a chance for recognition. Over 3,000 competitors will compete in 98 different events, and winners will receive medallions, scholarships, tools and other awards.
Businesses and industries support almost every contest with supplies and personnel. Every other year a select few of the competitors are chosen to participate on an international level in the World Skills Competition.