A Summerland Secondary School student showed he has the skills to excel in the trades at the Skills Canada competition in Kelowna earlier this month.
Robert Nehring, 16, was one of two Summerland students to participate in the regional competition. Tyler Huzar also took part.
Nehring said the mechanical skills competition involved fixing several automotive problems and completing a multiple choice test and a data test.
The first problem to solve was a faulty fuel injector. The second was a rear axle which had to be taken apart and reassembled. The third was a faulty vehicle brake light.
Huzar, who is enrolled in the heavy duty mechanic pre-apprenticeship program, said the rear axle was the most time-consuming part of the test, since he also had to set up the equipment to test it and find the problems in it.
The easiest part was fixing the brake light, which had been caused by a failed fuse.
Now that Nehring has completed the regional competition, he will go to the provincial competition in Abbotsford on April 17.
Charles Lay, trades and technology teacher at Summerland Secondary School, said Summerland students have done well in previous Skills Canada events.
The competition is a showcase for the top students in trades courses.
“In order to win gold, you have to demonstrate a high level of determination and a skill set,” he said.
Lay said trades education can lead to lucrative work in the future.
“People have forgotten how important the trades are,” he said. “Any kid should be looking at the trades.”