Several weeks back I wrote the post Insight from Inaugural SkillsUSA Geospatial Technology Winner. In addition to Sue, I was also able to contact another winner, June Garneau.  June provided some more valuable information as well.  Although older than most of the contestants, she is an example for all of us.  Here are some of her responses to my questions:

1. How did you hear about the competition?

My professor, Peg Heaney, at White Mountains Community College is the one who heard about the contest. She wanted our class (I think there were four of us) to all take the qualifying test, but there was a snow storm and I was the only one who showed up that day, so I took it.

2. Why did you want to participate?

Initially, I didn’t think anything would come of it, but once we received notice that I qualified, my interest level rose. I received the information I needed to do the required project that was due at the conference, and still had not decided whether or not to go. Money and the fact that the competition was primarily for high school and young college students (I am 54 now) were both deterrents. But, the college President helped me find a scholarship and I decided I would go and learn what I could from the experience. It was a very good decision.

3. What challenges did you come up against?

Besides the funding issue, the biggest challenge was the required project; it was tough and stretched my GIS knowledge beyond what I had learned. The project had many levels, but the gist of it was to use spatial analyst to find the most suitable sites for a garden on a small college campus. Having no real campuses where I live, I chose a local high school; I took over 800 GPS points (during black fly season!) and created a 3D model of the entire campus. Then, using spatial analyst and the map calculator, I located the best garden sites based on several criteria. It was a very practical exercise and really a great deal of fun, although challenging. The next biggest challenge was the actual STARS test at the conference; like the project, this challenged what I knew about GIS. But, having had excellent training, I knew where to look for answers to problems and how to extrapolate information to come up with solutions.

4. What did you take away from the experience?

What I took away from the experience may not be what others take away. First of all, I gained a tremendous appreciation for my Professor and the manner in which I was taught and for the support I got from the college President, Katherine Eneguess. Secondly, I learned much about the youth of America and the good that this conference does; it was great to see so many eager and excited students learning trades and professions. Lastly, and most important for me, was the knowledge that I could achieve success in something new, even at the age of 53. I gained new confidence and realized that anything is possible if you work at it and try your best. Changing careers at 53 was difficult, but I did it, and the Skills USA conference truly helped me realize the possibilities of a future in GIS. Now I am the GIS Planner for a Regional Planner Commission in northern NH. I prepare map products and perform map analysis to support our community and economic planners. In addition, working here in GIS, has allowed me to also become a “planner”;  I now not only do GIS but am the Multi-Hazard Mitigation Planner for my organization.

Based upon some direct advice that she gave me, she told me to “…do not hesitate…go to the SkillsUSA contest and enjoy the experience!” That is what I plan to do. 

Thanks June for the valuable testamony!