Once again, SkillsUSA’s Mobile Electronics program is seeking help, this time in the form of volunteers to judge state contests.
To explain, most states don’t offer the Mobile Electronics section of SkillsUSA because they don’t know there is a dire need for car audio installers.
Chris Jack, Technical Chairperson for Mobile Electronics Installation at SkillsUSA, has contacted program directors in all 50 states to alert them of this need. The directors’ overwhelming response is that they need judges in order to implement the program, because the top high school candidates in each state will eventually compete in a state finals, said Jack. “Every state is going to need volunteers,” he said.
SkillsUSA is a career and technical student organization serving more than 395,000 high schools around the country.
Retailers, manufacturer’s representatives and other industry members are encouraged to volunteer in their state by contacting Jack. For retailers, this should put you in contact with new installer candidates. Reps also, may benefit, by directing potential installers to local dealers.
Volunteers will spend 4 or 5 hours on a Saturday judging a state contest. The high school candidates are scored on the following points:
Radio installation
Relay configuration and diagrams
Multi-meter usage and testing
Series parallel wiring on speaker configuration
Soldering
While Skills USA is in all 50 states, the Mobile Electronics segment has been limited to 20 to 22 states. The hope is to expand to the full 50 states.
The Mobile Electronics portion of Skills USA recently received funding from Kicker (Stillwater Designs), Sony and 10 Sony distributors, JBL/Infinity, Audio Control, Cerwin Vega/Diamond Audio, and retailer Southern Thunder Audio in Atlanta.
The new programs require $10 to $15,000 per year in funding and Jack continues to seek donations. As more states participate, the need for support will increase. Those suppliers who can’t make cash contributions are asked to provide car audio T-shirts, hats, and key chains. Jack said, “The kids love them.”
Key prizes for the first place contest winner this year include a $3,000 car audio system from Sony/Kicker. Snap-on also donates tools as a key prize.
For those who can volunteer or donate, please email Jack at [email protected]
