BUCKHANNON — Fred Eberle Technical Center student Sean Fitzsimmons was selected as a finalist in the SkillsUSA national carpentry competition. Out of 50 states, Fitzsimmons placed 9th in the competition, representing the State of West Virginia.
The 23-year-old tradesman is a Wheeling, WV native, a graduate of Buckhannon-Upshur High School, and a graduate of the Fred Eberle Technical Center. While at the technical center from 2020 to 2021, Fitzsimmons simultaneously earned both his carpentry certification and electrical journeyman’s license.
“It was a great experience meeting people with similar interests and having the opportunity to compete at the national level in the SkillsUSA carpentry competition,” Fitzsimmons said. “All of the students that made it this far worked so hard to get here, and I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to compete.”
He also expressed his appreciation for those who helped him develop his workmanship skills and provided motivation.
“I would like to thank my carpentry instructor, Randy Cunningham, for teaching us all of his knowledge of the trade and the value of true craftsmanship. I’d definitely like to express my heartfelt love for my family and thank them for their continued support and encouragement. Most of all, I would like to thank God for everything He has done in my life, along with helping me to learn the skills to have this opportunity. I’m genuinely humbled to have been able to represent the State of West Virginia at the national competition.”
SkillsUSA’s 2021 “National Leadership and Skills conference” was immensely different from the years prior. Rather than inviting thousands of technical and trade students to compete in 100 competitions in a sizable auditorium, this year’s conference was virtual.
Each contestant was tasked with building a picnic table with two conjoining sawhorses. They were each supplied with 37 materials and 11 pounds of assorted screws. SkillsUSA also added additional building supplies to the material list, in case any contestant made a mistake.
Fitzsimmons’ sawhorses were solid, stable, even, and did not wobble. Their quality and stability won him 9th place in the nation for carpentry.
Melissa Wilkinson, the West Virginia SkillsUSA State Director, praised Fitzsimmons for his accomplishments and marvelously representing the state of West Virginia at a national level.
“Sean competed and represented West Virginia at the national SkillsUSA conference,” Wilkinson continued. “He competed against some of the best Carpentry students in the USA and represented our state very well!
I am proud of Sean for not only for his accomplishment but also for his success in a ‘virtual setting!’ The competitions are grueling in person, so the added stress of the virtual contest was a new playing field for the teachers and students. Hats off to Sean, his instructor, and the administration at Fred Eberle for encouraging students to compete this year!”
Wilkinson also discussed the purpose of SkillsUSA and its importance in preparing students to enter the workforce.
“SkillsUSA is a national student youth organization preparing students with the skills they need to succeed in the workforce. SkillsUSA focus on highlighting student trade skills learned at their career and technical center while teaching students leadership skills such as teamwork, work ethic, integrity and decision making.”
Earlier this year, Fitzsimmons took second place in SkillsUSA’s West Virginia State Carpentry Competition.