Georgian College students shine at Skills Ontario competition

Georgian’s medalists from the Outdoor Powered Equipment category. From left: Bob Dundas, Marine Engine Mechanic Professor; Aiden Huibers; Alex Ptolemy French; and Emily Wentland. Wed., May 7, 2025. Submitted.

Nine Georgian College students won gold, silver and bronze medals at this year’s Skills Ontario competition.

The event, held May 5 and 6, with an awards ceremony May 7, showcased the talents of the best skilled trades and technologies students from across the province.

All 23 of Georgian’s student competitors, many of whom are in their first year at college, competed for the first time.

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One of the highlights of this year’s awards ceremony was Georgian earning all three podium spots for Outdoor Powered Equipment.

“We’re under a lot of pressure during the competition, so being able to keep calm and remind myself that I belong here really helped me stay focused,” said Alex Ptolemy French, gold medal winner and student in the Mechanical Techniques Marine Engine Mechanic program.

“I’m so happy to have won, and I feel proud to represent Georgian and my trade,” Ptolemy French said.

Ptolemy French will also be moving on to compete at the Skills Canada national competition with Team Ontario in Regina at the end of May.

Bronze medal winner Emily Wentland was the only female competitor in the Outdoor Powered Equipment category.

She said it was incredible to see so many female competitors showcasing their skills in other typically male-dominated trades and winding up on the podium.

“Competing at Skills Ontario was an amazing experience. It was nerve wracking at first, but placing on the podium gave me a lot of reassurance and confidence in my skillset,” she said.

“My advice to girls who want to get into the trades is to just go for it. While we’re held to the same standards as men, it just proves that we can do anything they can do,” Wentland.

This year was the second time Georgian has competed in the Aesthetics category.

Melanie Pringle, program coordinator of the Esthetician Spa Management program at Georgian, said she was thrilled to see two of her students take home silver and bronze.

Pringle said it was a powerful moment watching them get to the final after months of countless hours of training.

“So much work is put in behind the scenes that people don’t see, and I’m so proud of all the students for their dedication and commitment to this experience,” she said. “Skills Ontario is an incredible opportunity to network with other students and faculty across Georgian and other Ontario colleges. There’s so much value in participating, and I would strongly encourage all future trades students to get involved.”

2025 Skills Ontario winners from Georgian:

• Aesthetics: Vanessa Thompson - silver and Alexia Rusque -bronze.
• CNC Machining: Harrison Storey - silver.
• Geographic Information Systems: Team of Riccardo Italiano and Fernando Escalante - silver.
• Heating Systems Technician: Jack Short - silver.
• Outdoor Powered Equipment: Alex Ptolemy French - gold, Aiden Huibers - silver and Emily Wentland - bronze.

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