Christopher Meduna, a graduate of Century High School, is a first-place National SkillsUSA winner in the Mobile Electronics Competition held June 22-26 in Louisville, Ky. He is the son of Gregory Meduna.

Five students from the Bismarck Public School District's Career Academy and Technical Center participated in the National SkillsUSA competition. The programs and names of the other students are Brian Kalvoda, computer programming; Tanner Pennington, automotive refinishing; Alex Thill, electronics technology; and Madison Woehl, welding.

STILLWATER, USA – A host of KICKER® employees will judge the 2024 Oklahoma State SkillsUSA Mobile Electronics contest at Meridian Technology Center in Stillwater, Okla., Thursday April 11. Three of KICKER’s Tech Force training team will join members of the company’s Special Projects Team, R&D, and Marketing departments to judge the effectiveness of 48 Oklahoma student competitors, each attempting to solve the challenges presented by eight independent mobile-electronics workstations. The winning competitors will earn awards from the brand and qualify for the SkillsUSA Finals in Atlanta later this year.

SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers, and industry working together to ensure America continues to have a skilled workforce, according to SkillsUSA.org. Students who excel in the program are prepared to shine in the exciting 12-volt industry.

The mobile-electronics category tests competitors’ abilities to perform standard installation practices used by certified, professional mobile-electronics installers. In the industry, these skills have been established through the certification objectives and items created for basic MECP certification by the Consumer Electronics Association.

“We hear from retailers regularly that they cannot find qualified people to hire,” said Aaron Malin, KICKER Tech Force/Global Training Manager. “This challenge stresses various aspects of the real-world workplace. When they complete the SkillsUSA challenge, they are positioned to enter a job and immediately contribute.

“I would like to encourage other 12-volt industry leaders and manufacturers to get involved with SkillsUSA; we need those young men and women to join us in this quickly evolving industry.”

In addition to the challenges presented at Meridian Technology Center, each competitor must take and pass the MECP Basic Certification program before competing. A professional interview and hands-on applications are all required, including the demonstration of several core 12-volt installation skill sets like taking electrical measurements, installing consumer-electronics equipment, soldering, working with relay circuits, and troubleshooting electronic circuitry.

“SkillsUSA is definitely growing,” says Tech Force trainer Jacob Luckey. “Last year we had 10 competitors; this year we have nearly 50. It speaks to the importance of getting the right training, and then using those skills on the job. Being prepared makes all the difference, and these competitors recognize that.”

KICKER Performance Audio products, a division of Stillwater Designs and Audio, Inc.®, are available for the mobile and home audio aftermarket at authorized retailers worldwide, and also as Original Equipment for boat and automobile manufacturers. Consumers seeking more information on KICKER or Livin’ Loud® may call the Consumer Information Line at 1-800-256-5425 or visit the brand website at www.kicker.com. Consumers can follow KICKER socially at Facebook.com/kickeraudio, Twitter.com/kickeraudio, Instagram.com/kickeraudio, or Pinterest.com/kickeraudio, and use the hashtags #kickeraudio and #livinloud.