MARKED TREE, Ark. (4-24-2015) - Nine Arkansas State University-Newport students earned medals, including four gold medals, at the Arkansas SkillsUSA competition held last week at the Hot Springs Convention Center.

Gold medal winners were (from left): Seth Smithee of Paragould in Electrical Construction Wiring, Aaron Redmond of Brookland in Information Technology Services, Kaitlyn Lard of Tyronza in Cosmetology and John Angelo in Internetworking.

Aaron Redmond of Brookland won the gold medal in Information Technology Services competition, Seth Smithee of Paragould took top honors in Electrical Construction Wiring, Kaitlyn Lard of Tyronza grabbed the gold in Cosmetology and John Angelo of Jonesboro topped the field in Internetworking competition.  Angelo led ASU-Newport to the top three finishes in Internetworking, as Cody Dickens of Harrisburg earned the silver medal and Chandler Vance of Jonesboro took home the bronze medal.

Cody Dickens - Silver in Internetworking	Chandler Vance - Bronze in Internetworking

ll four of ASUN's gold medalists will now advance to the National SkillsUSA competition this summer in Louisville, Ky.

Brittany Reed & Skye Roach - Silver in Esthetics

Savanna Reed - Silver in Job Skills Demonstration

SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA helps each student excel, and is a national nonprofit organization serving teachers and high school and college students who are preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations, including health occupations.

Matthew Wheeley - Silver in Automotive Service Technology

Stephen Rasnic - Bronze in HVAC

Other medalists for ASU-Newport at the Arkansas SkillsUSA competition were Matthew Wheeley of Jonesboro, who won the silver medal in Automotive Service Technology, Savanna Reed of Monette, who took silver in Job Skill Demonstrations and the team of Brittany Reed of Morrilton and Skye Roach of Trumann, who won the silver medal in Esthetics.  Stephen Rasnic of Jonesboro earned the bronze in HVAC competition.