By SEAN BOSTON
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson High School senior Kale Dreiling placed fifth in the nation in the Job Interview category at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in June in Atlanta.
Dreiling earned his spot at nationals by winning first place in April at the Kansas SkillsUSA competition. The Job Interview contest included about 50 qualifiers, with Dreiling advancing to the top 12 finalists before placing fifth overall.
“They only medal the top three,” said Glenna Burden, who has coached the leadership competitions at Hutchinson High for the past two years. “He had an exceptional overall score … but we just barely missed it.”
Jeremiah Harmon, SkillsUSA lead advisor and Dreiling’s welding instructor, said he encouraged Dreiling to compete. “This really is a big deal when you consider our role in CTE is to become college and career ready,” Harmon said. “Placing 5th in the country for preparing students in Job Interview; which includes job searching, writing resumes, asking and securing letters of recommendation, cover letters, filling out applications, meeting with receptionists, conducting an interview, and even the handshake. The student is scored in every aspect of the event and I am very proud to brag on both Kale and Glenna; Kale earned 898.75 of 1000 points.”
Burden explained that the contest is judged from the moment competitors begin the process. “Everything is graded from the eye contact, the handshake, how he sits before he’s taken back to the interview panel,” she said. “He’s got a gift of gab … it’s what he can do in that room that put him ahead.”
Burden called the competition “absolute life skills,” adding, “Not everyone is going to college like they used to. I think that we need to reinvigorate our pursuit of the trades, and this is just one more way to get visibility to our pursuit.”
Also attending nationals from Hutchinson High were Eli Perez, Enrique Flores and Felisa O’Neal.