Loyalist College shines at 2024 Skills Ontario Competition

Belleville, ON, May 14, 2024 – Last week, a team of 31 Loyalist College students showcased their expertise across 17 categories at the 2024 Skills Ontario Competition. From May 6 – 7, the students demonstrated advanced knowledge and abilities alongside the province’s top competitors. Three Loyalist students earned their place on the podium, including a gold medal win in the Mechanical CAD category.

The Skills Ontario Competition brings together over 2,400 elementary, secondary and post-secondary students to compete in more than 70 categories, from culinary arts and landscape design to carpentry, robotics, and more. Competition tasks test key skills and remain confidential until the challenge begins. The annual event provides a platform for students to demonstrate industry-specific skills and qualify for the opportunity to compete at the Skills Canada National Competition.

Loyalist College Manufacturing Engineering Technician student Seamus Davidson earned a gold medal in the Mechanical CAD category, challenging students to use computer software to create 2D and 3D plans for manufacturing and engineering design. To win the category, Seamus modelled off-road LED lightbars and designed and reverse-engineered moto sports suspension components in collaboration with FDF Raceshop.

As the provincial gold medalist in Mechanical CAD, Seamus has qualified to compete with students from across the country at the 2024 Skills Canada National Competition in Québec City from May 30 – 31.

Additionally, Tucker Walsh earned a silver medal in Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM), and Jack Simpson was awarded a bronze in Additive Manufacturing. Both students are enrolled in Loyalist’s Manufacturing Engineering Technician program.

“This year’s Skills Ontario Competition saw Loyalist students showcasing their abilities in a wide range of fields, from 3D Digital Game Art and Welding, to Carpentry, Electrical Installations, Esthetics and beyond,” says Loyalist College President and CEO Mark Kirkpatrick. “Along with refining their skills, the competition allows our students to stretch their confidence, embrace leadership roles and exercise discipline as they train for success. We are immensely proud of all our students who competed and wish Seamus the best of luck as he advances to the national stage.”

About Loyalist College

Loyalist College is built upon the lands governed by the Dish with One Spoon wampum agreement. We affirm and thank the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabeg and Huron-Wendat nations for their continued caretaking of the land. At Loyalist, we empower our students with wraparound support services and hands-on training to succeed on any path they choose. Our academic programs are responsive and innovative, designed to solve pressing social and economic challenges and meet the evolving needs of our regional industry and community partners. Our graduates enter the workforce equipped with the knowledge they need to be better global citizens, and with future-focused skills to lead change in their fields. With a presence in Belleville, Bancroft, Port Hope, Tyendinaga and Toronto, we believe our institutional responsibility extends beyond the classroom to seeing the big picture for the communities we serve. Our expertise in applied research and deep connections to local industry support economic development, to the benefit of businesses, entrepreneurs, changemakers and innovators. Our commitment to decolonization, and the pursuit of a more inclusive, equitable world, means we hold ourselves accountable to the diverse perspectives, cultures and experiences that shape our communities.

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Contact:
Hannah Brown
Director of Marketing and Communications
613-921-0784
hbrown@loyalistcollege.com