After some research, I have found some more information on the SkillsUSA Geospatial Technology Competition. I got into contact with my local SkillsUSA chapter and also was able to talk to Eddie Hanebuth with Digital Quest, Inc. These two contact have really helped my decision. First of all, I found that the competition entails three main area:

  • Project
  • Skills Test
  • Written Test

Once I register, I will be sent a project that I will complete prior to the competition. I will turn in that project and also have an opportunity to orally defend it before a judges panel.  This project will cover several geospatial areas.  Then while I am at at the competition I will perform a skills test during a sitting and then a written test during another.  The competitor with the highest point total will be declared the winner.

In addition to the competition, the contestants that score at least a 75% will be awarded STARS Certification.  STARS (Spatial Technology and Remote Sensing) is a certification program for high school and college students along with career professionals to incorporate Geospatial tools into their future or current jobs.  It also can be seen as the first step in obtaining the GIS Professional Certification.

Once I spoke with SkillsUSA, I found that I needed to go through the North Carolina SkillsUsa chapter in order to compete at the national level.  With their “blessing”, I will be able to compete nationally.

This post was written in response to: SkillsUSA Geospatial Technology Preperation.