Daniel Yawn earned a silver medal at the state SkillsUSA competition. He is pictured here wearing his lucky number “7” hard hat in the telecommunications lab at Wiregrass Tech.
Fitzgerald GA -- The Telecommunications program at the Ben Hill–Irwin Campus of Wiregrass Tech recently received state-wide attention. Daniel Yawn of Ocilla won a silver medal at the at the state SkillsUSA Competition. He was among 59 Wiregrass students who earned a medal at the skills competition. “It was awesome,” shared Daniel. “I felt confident about my competition and felt I had performed well enough to medal.” The college medaled in 83% of the contests the students competed in, and 67% of the Wiregrass students who competed earned a medal. The college also earned, for the second year in a row, Gold Chapter of Distinction level award, National Model of Excellence Chapter, and the Largest Member Growth and Largest Chapter.
Daniel is currently the President of the Ben Hill-Irwin Campus SkillsUSA Chapter and would encourage any student to join the organization. “It’s fun to meet new people and it looks great on a resume, showing that you are involved and put in extra time to perfect your skills.” He said he chose Telecommunications because he enjoys working with his hands especially working with RJ45 cables that are used for the Ethernet or computers. The college teaches many aspects in the field of Telecommunications, from install cabling and equipment used in transmitting messages and television programming, to security systems and alarm devices, to troubleshooting telecommunications and fiber optics. Yawn completed his Telecommunications Diploma this past Spring Semester and started on his Technical Studies Degree this semester. He is already exploring options for employment and making contact with potential future employers.
According to SkillsUSA rules, Yawn will have one more year to compete in SkillsUSA after he graduates in, and he’s already planning for next year’s state competition. Telecommunications skills is not the only thing Yawn learned from Telecommunications and Security Technology Program Coordinator Tony Lindsey. Daniel will take soft skills to a new job that will make a difference in the workplace. Like being adaptable in the workplace and listening to what the employer instructs on a job, and being the kind of employee an employer can depend on. The Telecommunications program is only offered on the Ben Hill-Irwin Campus of Wiregrass.
Wiregrass will be accepting new students for fall semester on Free Application week, running June 17-20. Apply in person during that week and have your application fee waived. To learn more about the Telecommunications program and other programs, visit wiregrass.edu.
