GHS student brings home gold from national Skills competition

The medal was gold for Grafton High School senior Owen Pryga at the SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference in Atlanta in June.

Twenty students from across the country competed for six hours in a variety of work station tasks to test proficiency on Automative Service Excellence.

For his skills in the following categories: safety, brakes, electrical and electronics, suspension, steering, alignment, major engine reepair, engine performance and transmissions, Pryga took home the gold and will also receive $8,000 worth of Snap-On tools, a tool box and cash.

Grafton High School students have qualified for this national competition 14 times in the past 27 years. Pryga, 18, is the third national champion in school history.

Nic Fullington, Auto Service Tech teacher at the school, enlisted the help of Mark Didier from the Village of Grafton, Scott  Bohn at Russ Darrow Honda, and Five Corners Dodge in Cedarburg.

“All of these dealers were ready and willing to support us with technology,” Fullington said. “We used their computer scan tools, talked to their technicians, researched through their service literature, and looked under the hoods of their new car inventory to get as fully prepared as possible.”

Several sponsors and individuals provided financial support, including Deb Kruse from the Automotive Dealers Association of Mega Milwaukee, Pam King at the Grafton Area Chamber of Commerce, Yamato Corporation, Fabick Cat, Five Corners Dodge, Jennifer Mell and Adam Hale.

Pryga plans to attend the University of Wisconsin-Stout this fall to study information technology.