“KCCC Students Compete at SkillsUSA Nationals in Atlanta”

Mount Vernon, OH – The SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference (NLSC)
was held June 19-23 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Over 6,500 students from across the nation competed at the NLSC. Knox County Career
Center (KCCC) students, Jack Fowler and Max Payne, both 2023 graduates, represented
KCCC at the NLSC.
Fowler competed in the Automotive Service Technology competition and Payne
competed in the CNC Turning competition. Fowler finished 13th in the nation out of 45
competitors while Payne finished 6th in the nation out of 24 competitors.
KCCC’s Don McDaniel (Automotive Technology instructor) and Joe LaFevre (Precision
Machining instructor) were extremely proud of Fowler and Payne.
McDaniel commented, “It’s been an absolute honor to work with Jack through his
SkillsUSA Regional and State 1st place finishes along with his outstanding performance at
SkillsUSA Nationals.”
McDaniel added, “Jack’s hard work, dedication, and desire to succeed are only
surpassed by his personality, his citizenship traits, and his caring for others.”
LaFevre said, “Max is such a competitor. It showed most to me when he wasn’t satisfied
with placing 6th in the country.”
LaFevre added, “I was still writing him programs to practice his troubleshooting the week
of the competition. As his teacher, I have to respect the competitor in him because it makes me

smile. At the same time, I’m so proud of Max and I hope it settles in that he just placed 6th in the
nation in his respective competition. What an honor it is to be able to say that.”