2017 Skills Competition

Hosted by Minnesota West Community and Technical College – Granite Falls

2017 Student of the Year Awards

At the skills competition, one student from each school is chosen by the instructors to receive a Student of the Year award. This year, each recipient received a check for $150.00 donated by Chapter 5.

• Michael Burg – Alexandria Technical and Community College
• Tony Meyerink, CFPHS – Minnesota West Community and Technical College – Granite Falls
• Brian Gilbertson, CFPS – Hennepin Technical College – Brooklyn Park
• Matt Klehr – Hennepin Technical College – Eden Prairie

2017 Skills Competition Awards

• 1st Place ($650.00) – Sven Hovland, CFPS – Hennepin Technical College – Eden Prairie
• 2nd Place Tie ($450.00) – Brian Gilbertson, CFPS – Hennepin Technical College – Brooklyn Park
  Michael Burg – Alexandria Technical and Community College
• 3rd Place ($200.00) – Matt Klehr, Hennepin Technical College – Eden Prairie
• 4th Place ($150.00) – Dustin Johnson – Alexandria Technical and Community College
• 5th Place ($100.00) – Dillon Lee – Alexandria Technical and Community College
• 6th Place ($50.00) – David Black – Minnesota West Community and Technical College – Granite Falls
• 7th Place ($50.00) – Brett Johnson, CFPS – Hennepin Technical College – Brooklyn Park

Back row, from left: Chris Mabin, CFPS, Master of Ceremony; Donna Pollander, ACA, IFPS Executive Director; Bret Johnson; David Black; Dillon Lee; Dustin Johnson; Matt Klehr,  Front row: Michael Burg; Sven Hovland; Brian Gilbertson

Past Presidents Scholarship

Every year, a Past Presidents Scholarship is awarded to one student. This scholarship pays for one full year of tuition for the selected student. This year’s check was $6,113.88. The Scholarship rotates yearly between the four colleges: Alexandria Technical and Community College, Hennepin Technical College-Brooklyn Park, Hennepin Technical College-Eden Prairie, and Minnesota West Community and Technical College. Funding for this scholarship is generated from IFPS Chapter 5 past presidents.

From left: Michael Van Keulen, Foundation Director, Minnesota West Community and Technical College – Granite Falls; George Beniek (middle) presents the 2017 Past Presidents Scholarship to Tony Meyerink, CFPHS, Minnesota West – Granite Falls

Instructors

Alexandria Technical and Community College

• Todd Zarbok, CFPAI
• Daniel Larson

Hennepin Technical College, Brooklyn Park

• Bill Martin, CFPAI
• Jeannine Uehling, CFPAI

Hennepin Technical College, Eden Prairie

• Michael Cirillo, CFPAI
• Chad, Grimmer, CFPS

Host – Minnesota West Community and Technical College – Granite Falls

• Tom Midthun, CFPS
• Ty Bowen, CFPS
• Joel Timm, CFPS

Judges

The judges have the task of constructing various tests, providing testing supplies, as well as administering and grading the tests. The judges are the backbone of the competition, and their efforts and commitment keep the competition on track.

From left: Chris Mabin, CFPS, Skills Competition Coordinator, Fleet Pride; Randy Meyer, CFPS, John Henry Foster Co.; Scott Aldridge, Power Systems Inc.; Bryan Anderson, CFPS, Parker Hannifin Corporation; Heidi Kloskin, CFPS, JEM Technical Marketing Co., Inc.; James Giroux, CFPS, Certified Power, Inc.;  Bill Hotchkiss, CFPAI, SunSource; Jeff Arbogast, CFPS, Fleet Pride Truck & Trailer Parts

The IFPS

The International Fluid Power Society supports the Skills Competition every year. Donna Pollander, ACA, IFPS executive director, attended this year’s competition and presented a check to Chapter 5 for $2,500.00 supporting the 2017 Skills Competition. In addition, all winners and the Students of the Year will receive a one-year paid membership to the IFPS. The continued support from IFPS is essential to Chapter 5 and is greatly appreciated by all members. Chapter 5 used the donated funds for the contestants, awards, and other costs associated with the competition.

• 2017
• ifps
• recap
• skills competition