Delgado Ford ASSET Students Win Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals at SkillsUSA Competition

May 04, 2018

This year marks the sixth in a row that a Delgado Community College Ford ASSET student has won the gold medal in Automotive Service Technology at the Louisiana SkillsUSA competition, held in April.

A big difference this year is that Delgado Ford ASSET students won the gold, silver and bronze medals in the competition. 

"They competed against 16 competitors from around the state and still swept the event," said Chris McDonald, Ford ASSET instructor at Delgado and SkillsUSA adviser. "Winning the gold medal again qualifies us to compete in the national event in June. I am very proud of our students and they deserve this recognition for their achievements."

The Delgado Motor Vehicle Technology program was represented by seven students at the statewide competition hosted by SOWELA Technical Community College in Lake Charles on April 20. 

"Congratulations on the great 'sweep' that our students accomplished at the state SkillsUSA competition," said Donald Davenport, chair of Motor Vehicle Technology at Delgado. "I don’t recall us ever winning all the medals. It definitely shows that we are meeting our goal of being the premier automotive technology program in the state."

Students entering the Ford ASSET program must be sponsored by a participating Ford dealer who provides supervised work experience for approximately eight weeks of each semester. The other half of each semester is spent in classes at Delgado.

The three Louisiana SkillsUSA Automotive Service Technology competition medalists from Delgado Community College, from left: Matthew Lugo (gold medalist), Juston Fruge (silver medalist), Brandon Lefebvre (bronze medalist). All three are Ford ASSET students in the Delgado Motor Vehicle Technology program.
The three Louisiana SkillsUSA Automotive Service Technology competition medalists from Delgado Community College, from left: Matthew Lugo (gold medalist), Juston Fruge (silver medalist), Brandon Lefebvre (bronze medalist). All three are Ford ASSET students in the Delgado Motor Vehicle Technology program.
The six students representing the Delgado Community College Motor Vehicle Technology program at Louisiana SkillsUSA and their instructor, from left: Chris McDonald (Ford ASSET instructor/adviser), Juston Fruge (silver medalist/Ford ASSET student), Matthew Lugo (gold medalist/Ford ASSET student), Brandon Lefebvre (bronze medalist/Ford ASSET student), Garrett Wilson (Ford ASSET student), Michael Del Rio (GM ASEP student), Luther Miley (GM ASEP student). Not pictured, Andrew Gassen (general automotive student), Richard Vargas (general automotive instructor/adviser). 
The six students representing the Delgado Community College Motor Vehicle Technology program at Louisiana SkillsUSA and their instructor, from left: Chris McDonald (Ford ASSET instructor/adviser), Juston Fruge (silver medalist/Ford ASSET student), Matthew Lugo (gold medalist/Ford ASSET student), Brandon Lefebvre (bronze medalist/Ford ASSET student), Garrett Wilson (Ford ASSET student), Michael Del Rio (GM ASEP student), Luther Miley (GM ASEP student). Not pictured, Andrew Gassen (general automotive student), Richard Vargas (general automotive instructor/adviser). 

About SkillsUSA

SkillsUSA is a vital solution to the growing U.S. skills gap. The nonprofit partnership of students, instructors and industry ensures America has the skilled workforce it needs to stay competitive. Endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education, the association serves more than 335,000-member students and instructors each year in middle schools, high schools and colleges. This diverse talent pipeline covers 130 trade, technical and skilled service occupations, the majority STEM-related. More than 600 corporations, trade associations, businesses and labor unions actively support SkillsUSA at the national level. SkillsUSA empowers its members to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens as it improves the quality of our nation’s future skilled workforce. SkillsUSA supports its student members through the development of SkillsUSA Framework skills that include personal, workplace and technical skills grounded in academics. Local, state and national championships, designed and judged by industry, set relevant standards for career and technical education and provide recognition opportunities for students. SkillsUSA also offers technical skill assessments and workplace credentials through the SkillsUSA Career Essentials program, a cutting-edge solution that defines, implements and measures career readiness skills for students.

About Delgado Community College

Founded in 1921, Delgado Community College is the New Orleans region’s largest higher education institution and Louisiana’s oldest and largest community college. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and by industry organizations, Delgado provides students with the most comprehensive array of educational services available in the greater New Orleans region.