Katie Leslie became a two-time gold medal winner in sheet metal at the national Skills USA competition in Kansas City. Last year, while in high school she took the national price and returned again this year to reclaim her title in the post-secondary competition. Leslie is a student at the Ogden-Weber Applied Technology College and works as an estimator for Mechanical Service and Systems Inc. She is enrolled in the Union Apprentice program for Sheet Metal and is close to graduation.

“It was thrilling to watch Katie compete and win as a female student,” said OWATC sheet metal instructor Wayne Layton. He added, “She has done really well with her career in a short time.” Leslie started out working in the field and was offered a promotion with her company last spring. “At first I wasn’t interested in the job,” said Leslie. She added “but they made me an offer I couldn’t refuse and I really love what I do. They have been so good to me at MSS.”

Leslie expresses gratitude for OWATC providing so many opportunities. She started at OWATC while still in high school because a traditional educational path was not giving her the results she wanted. Once she settled into the sheet metal program, she received tremendous encouragement from her instructors, including Wayne Layton. “I owe everything to Wayne Layton. He is such a good motivator that he makes you want to succeed.”

This year more than 13,000 people came to Kansas City where high school and adult students compete in the national Skills USA competition, formerly known as VICA. The event pits students against their finest peers to work against the clock and each other. They prove their expertise in occupations like sheet metal, drafting, precision machining, medical assisting, and culinary arts. While in Kansas City, students and faculty from OWATC relieved the competitive pressure by attending a professional baseball game and an amusement park.