Eighteen Mount Pleasant High School Electrical Technology students competed in the SkillsUSA Texas State Leadership and Skills Conference in Corpus Christi on April 2-5. MPHS dominated the competition earning a Best of Show, a 2nd and a 3rd place medal, two Superior blue ribbons, and two job offers.

In the National Electric Code Testing event, MPHS claimed two of the top three spots with senior Jovani Garcia placing 2nd and senior Jose Padilla coming in 3rd. This event focuses on applying and/or referencing the appropriate National Electrical Code chapters, articles, and calculations to given problems.

The team of juniors Ethan Carrillo, Cristian Cordova, Austin Gonzalez, and Andres Jaimes earned Best of Show for their Residential Wiring Exhibit. The team built a replica of a home including front entrance sconces and interior lighting for a living room, kitchen, and bathroom.

The team of juniors Daniel Castillo, Angel Flores, Yahir Hernandez, and Zuleymi Nava earned Superior Ribbon for their Electrical Exhibit. This group of first year students created a Residential Wiring Exhibit showcasing what they have learned in class. They also created a unique photo wall on the opposite side of the exhibit featuring a neon sign.

The team of seniors Carlos Castillo, Christian Portillo, Gerardo Ramirez, and junior Kevin Cigarroa also earned a Superior Ribbon for their Electrical Exhibit. The team built a replica of what is typically found in a residential swimming pool wiring set up including wiring for lights inside the pool.

Finally, in the Construction Wiring competition, seniors Alfredo Pineda and Hector Salazar might not have placed in the top three, but they gained something even better—keys to their futures. After seeing their levels of skill, KIEWIT Corporation, the largest construction and engineering organization in North America, offered Pineda and Salazar jobs with the company. For this event, students must take a professional development test, a National Electrical Code test, and have 8 hours to complete a wiring diagram given by the electrical companies that proctor the contest. The diagram includes the installation of a load center (panel), wiring circuits following the 2023 National Electrical Code, installing electrical devices, conduit bending and more.

In addition, junior Aidyn Chavez and senior Mario Patino participated as Voting Delegates for District 5 and were involved in choosing SkillsUSA Leadership for the 2025-2026 year.

The MPHS Electrical Program is under the guidance and direction of Tim Davis.

Photos:

1: (L to R) Cristian Cordova, Ethan Carrillo, Austin Gonzalez, and Andres Jaimes earned Best of Show accolades for the Electrical Exhibit

2: Jovani Garcia placed 2nd in National Electric Code Testing

3: Jose Padilla placed 3rd in National Electric Code Testing

4: Alfredo Pineda received a job offer from KIEWIT Corporation

5: Voting delegates Aidyn Chavez (left) and Mario Patino

6: Superior Ribbon winners Zuleymi Nava (left) and Daniel Castillo (not pictured, MPHS soccer players Angel Flores and Yahir Hernandez)

7: Superior Ribbon winners (L to R) Christian Portillo, Kevin Cigarroa, Gerardo Ramirez, Carlos Castillo