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The elements of a great education clicked together like the locking mechanism on the handcuffs Northland Career Center graduate Greg Breault used to arrest his drunken-driving suspect on a recent Thursday morning in Kansas City.

The suspect in this case was a police officer volunteering his time by playing a drunken driver. Breault was one of nine high school students from the career center participating in the 2009 SkillsUSA National Championships June 24 and 25 at Bartle Hall.

The championships was an opportunity for more than 5,000 secondary and post-secondary students to show off their talents in 91 different career and technical contests such as culinary arts, welding, diesel technology and criminal justice, Breault’s event.

Breault sat in a black and white Olathe, Kan., Police Department prowler parked in the convention center behind an SUV. With lights rolling, he went through the process of checking the vehicle registration, arresting the driver and searching for drugs or weapons.

To reach the annual SkillsUSA event, Breault and his classmates from the career center each had to win first place at local, regional and statewide competitions. Breault, who also attended Oak Park High School before graduating this spring, credited his success to a thick skin. A lot criminal justice competitors fumble when confronted with angry suspects, he said.

"I don’t have a hot head," Breault said. "I’m pretty down to earth."

"Down to earth" might be motto of the Northland Career Center, created to help students like Breault achieve academic success through practical, hands-on courses.

Many of the career center’s students might not otherwise succeed in school, according to Director Cheryl Hill. She’s seen average students blossom as they become engaged for the first time in their learning process.

"They’re really excited about their new skills and about competing," Hill said. "This is a big deal to go to nationals."

Ashley Curttright of North Kansas City High School, Stefani Picklar of Smithville High School and Mike West of Oak Park High School comprised the crime scene investigation team.

For an hour, the trio scoured a Ford Silverado for evidence, taking digital photos, dusting for fingerprints, and setting up yellow, numbered markers.

The team looked confident as they filed out of the competition area and awaited the judging results.

"We didn’t make any mistakes," West said.

It’s fun to learn things like teamwork and forensics from the law enforcement professionals that serve as on the career center’s faculty, Picklar said.

"If we’re not communicating, the job isn’t being done," Picklar said.

Win or lose, the team members learned at least one very valuable lesson from their time at the career center, West said.

"Leadership," he said. "More than anything, this organization make you a leader."

SKILLSUSA RESULTS

Here are the results for the Northland Career Center competitors at the 2009 SkillsUSA National Championships June 24 and 25 in Kansas City:

- Jason Anderson (Extemporaneous Speaking) — first place

- Garth Brown (Diesel Technology) — 14th place

- Sam Wolfe, Andrew DeJesus, Ryan Fales (Welding Fabrication) — fifth place

- Jennifer Munkirs (Job Demonstration) — 10th place

- Greg Breault (Criminal Justice) — 11th place

- Mike West, Ashley Curttright, Stefani Picklar (Crime Scene Investigation) — 18th Place

Staff writer Ray Weikal can be reached at 389-6637 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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