Grabbing Gold: NJ Student Wins Refinishing Competition at SkillsUSA Nationals
by Chasidy Rae Sisk
Rowan Cummings has refinishing SKILLS!
Cummings, then a junior at Morris County School of Technology (MCST) in Denville, showcased his talents in automotive refinish technology when he took first place in the collision repair competition during the New Jersey SkillsUSA State Leadership and Skills Conference, held last spring.
“I sent Rowan and a second-year student to the state level competition where Rowan took gold and my second-year student took the bronze,” shares MCST Instructor of Collision Repair and Refinishing Lou Rosso. “I am extremely proud of Rowan’s performance at the state level. I was not overly surprised at all – more like happily shocked.”
MCST offers a two-year refinishing program, open to juniors and seniors. Rosso knew that Cummings possessed something special as soon as he enrolled in the program. “When Rowan came to my class, he immediately showed an interest in the entire industry; however, he really stood out due to his interest and innate abilities to handle a spray gun. I worked closely with him on several techniques, and as I expected, he picked them up very quickly. Rowan is an energetic young man and good student. His thirst for knowledge of the industry as well as honing his skills is unprecedented in my opinion. Rowan has taken on a leadership role in the afternoon class which he attends. He is the painter in the shop.”
Cummings’ local victory earned him the right to head to Atlanta in June to compete against the winners from other states as the Garden State’s gold medal champion, but he had reservations about participating in the national competition. “Let’s just say he didn’t want to go at first,” Rosso recalls. “Rowan is a very intelligent young man, and he was worried about certain parts of the national competition, namely the color tinting and UV portions.”
Fortunately, his teacher encouraged him to give it a shot. “After a few more conversations and some explanations of how tinting goes and what UV products are and how they work, he gained confidence and decided to go to Atlanta and compete; however, he did not go to nationals expecting anything – he went to represent the state and school and try his best.
It turns out that Cummings’ best was more than good enough! He outscored the other refinish competitors, placing first in the national SkillsUSA competition and heading home with a coveted gold medal.
“His best actually set the bar at nationals,” Rosso boasts. “I knew he would do well but never expected him to come home a national champion. Rowan is on course to do very well in the industry and have an extraordinary career. I am extremely proud to have him as a student.”
Congratulations on your victory at SkillsUSA Nationals, Rowan Cummings! New Jersey Automotive wishes you the best of luck as you pursue your collision career!
Want more? Check out the December 2024 issue of New Jersey Automotive!