Hands-on approach works for student

Tag : Hands On Tools

"When I took it apart, I didn't find a little man, but I found thecircuits," said Stevenson, 18, a Parkside High School graduate whocompleted the electronics program at the school's Career &Technology Education Center in May. "I was always interested in howthings worked and sometimes I would take things apart and put themback together out of sheer boredom."
In June 2007, Stevenson finished first in the National SkillsUSACompetition in Kansas City, Mo. for the Electronics Technologycompetition. This year, he opted to try the ElectronicsApplications division and won the gold medal at the elite levelagain.
"I met a lot of interesting people and I learned some stuff outthere that I didn't know before, like how to set up a home theaterand other practical things about how electronics works," theWillards resident said.
Hired last summer as a technician by Lorch Microwave, Stevensonplans to continue working at the company while attending Wor-WicCommunity College this fall. Once he completes his studies inSalisbury, he plans to move onto a four-year college to earn adegree in electrical engineering.
"I want to work for the government making weapons," Stevenson said."But lately, I've also been considering the medical field, possiblybecoming an infectious disease doctor."
Maryland's SkillsUSA delegation brought home 17 medals from therecent 44th annual National Leadership and Skills Conference. Ateam of the state's most talented Career and Technology Educationhigh school students showcased their skills in 73 career andtechnical competitions with 5,000 students from all 50 states,Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands.
More than half of Maryland's competitors finished in the nationalTop 10. Stevenson was one of two Maryland students to win a goldmedal.
Instructors Dave Miles, Janet Benamati, Linda Valenzano, DennisMoore, and Steve Jenkins spent many hours helping Wicomico's sixSkillsUSA participants to prepare for competition.
Stevenson credits his success to Miles, who taught courses inParkside's electronics program.
"To be 100 percent honest, I rarely looked at the textbook," hesaid. "But I had a pretty good teacher so I didn't need one."
Miles said the thing that sets Alex apart from other students ishis ability to intensely focus and concentrate on numerous, butspecific, items at one time.
"You can always tell when Alex is in concentration mode," he said."He will put his hands on his head and lean back in his chair withhis head tilted up with 'the look.' When we were at the nationalcompetition, we spotted Alex in his unique concentration pose andat that moment, I knew the other competitors were in trouble."
Even though Stevenson always had a knack for fixing computers andhome appliances, he had a different career path in mind hissophomore year.
"When I started (Parkside's CT program) I took computer graphics,electronics and computer repair -- criminal justice was the oddball," said Stevenson, who considered a career in law enforcement."But I decided to stick with the electronics program in my schooland I skyrocketed through it."
After Stevenson won the gold medal last year in ElectronicsTechnology, Miles said Parkside's program changed more within aone-year time frame than it had in his entire 14-year tenure as theelectronics instructor.
"We are currently implementing a more 'systems approach' to theprogram," he said. "Robotintroduced. And we are expected topurchase a programmable robotic arm within the following fewweeks."
Stevenson said it would be a real advantage to Parkside students tohave the tools that will give them hands-on experience beforeentering the field.
By participating in the National SkillsUSA Competition, Stevensonacquired the scores needed to become a certified associate levelelectronics technician, he said.
"(My job) makes you think in numbers," he said. "It involves usinga bunch of ratios and relationships and some common sense. It's alot of trial and error."
Stevenson admitted that his "fix-it" hobby has become somewhat of achore in the workplace.
"There's always so many issues," he said. "We just recentlyresolved one that took us three weeks -- It's nerve-racking and Iget really stressed out because you have to meet deadlines."
Stevenson may switch over to computer repair, an activity firstintroduced to him by his best friend, Sean Romoser.
"Sometimes we'd go to his grandmother's so we could mess aroundwith her VCR," said Romoser, 18, who will attend the VirginiaMilitary Institute in the fall. "We were always taking stuff apartbecause we thought we could create something cool -- but I can'tactually say we ever made something awesome."
Lucky for the boys, they never got in trouble for it, Stevensonsaid.
"As long as we could put it back together and it worked -- we weregood," he said.