Kyle Kuznicki, a senior from the Lehighton School District, and a student in the Precision Machine Department at the Carbon Career & Technical Institute, gave a report this month to the committee about his trip to Atlanta for the 2024 SkillsUSA National Competition. Kuznicki won a gold medal in the 2-axis CNC turning competition.

Kuznicki, who was accompanied by CCTI Precision Machine Technology Department Instructor and SkillsUSA Advisor Kevin Kuehner, arrived in Atlanta on June 24.

In addition to winning first place and a gold medal, Kuznicki added that he received some additional awards.

“The Gene Haas Foundation was very generous because they gave each of the 200 competitors a $600 gift card,” Kuznicki said. “And they were even more generous. The first place winner got $5,000; second place got $3,000; and third place got $2,000.”

Kuehner thanked the Joint Operating Committee for all the support and help they have given him over the years. Kuehner has, so far, had six national winners from his students.

“I got to where I got from this facility right here,” Kuehner said. “I owe everything I have, and that’s why I keep doing what I do. I’m a high school dropout; but, this place saved me, and I came back and did it right.”

Kuehner said through the Gene Haas Foundation, he was able to secure a $10,000 scholarship for the school.

The Gene Haas Foundation was started in 1999 by Gene Haas, founder and owner of Haas Automation, Inc, and is located in Oxnard, California. The foundation donates millions of dollars every year to manufacturing education and the community. To date, they have provided more than $175 million in grants since its inception in 1999.