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As good as gold

From left, NIC Autobody Advisor AJ Parker, Auto Refinishing bronze medalist Jazzy Bicknell, Collision Damage Appraisal gold medalist Onasis Ocampo Mendoza, Collision Repair gold medalist Jon Brunko, Auto Refinishing gold medalist Koby Garvin Carrasco, Collision Repair bronze medalist Sydney Beamis and NIC Autobody and Paint Technology Instructor Cal DeHaas pose for a photo.

North Idaho College Autobody and Paint Technology students won first place in all three autobody competitions at the 2024 SkillsUSA Idaho State Leadership and Skills Conference on April 4 in Nampa.

Onasis Ocampo Mendoza of Granger, Wash. won in Collision Damage Appraisal, Jon Brunko of Homedale won in Collision Repair and Koby Garvin Carrasco from Spokane, Wash. won in Auto Refinishing.

NIC students Jazzy Bicknell of Coeur d’Alene and Sydney Beamis of Coeur d’Alene took home bronze medals in Auto Refinishing and in Collision Repair

“This year’s team was extremely self-motivated and took their practice sessions seriously,” NIC Autobody and Paint Technology instructor Cal DeHaas said. “They were focused and were ready to compete at a high level.  I’m very proud of how this year’s team prepped and performed.”

The win qualified Mendoza, Brunko and Carrasco for the June 24 National SkillsUSA competition in Atlanta.

NIC competes in the Idaho State Skills USA competition every spring against two-year programs College of Western Idaho, College of Southern Idaho, Lewis-Clark State College and Idaho State University. NIC is the only one-year Autobody and Paint Technology program in Idaho.

For more information, contact NIC Autobody and Paint Technology instructor Cal DeHaas at Cal.DeHaas@nic.edu.