Fanshawe Technology Student Wins Spot at 2011 WorldSkills Competition

Tyler Hackney is ready to take on the world.

The Fanshawe Manufacturing Engineering Technology student (at right), a member of the 2010 graduating class, will take his lathe skills to Britain in October of 2011, representing Canada at the WorldSkills competition in London, England.

Hackney recently took top spot in the lathe competition and second overall in the Computer Numerical Control (CNC) division at the Skills Canada National Competition in Waterloo. Earlier he won a provincial competition to qualify for nationals.

The Skills Canada National Competition brought together approximately 500 secondary, post-secondary, and apprenticeship students from all areas of Canada to compete in more than 40 trade and technology contests. Tyler's competition challenged contestants to machine a custom part based on blueprints delivered at the contest. Over the course of two days, participants were given three hours to do lathe work and three hours for milling. The combination of those two scores - a reflection of how closely the final product matched the blueprint - determined the overall winner. Hackney won the lathe portion, qualifying him for the world competition.

Tyler (in background) won top honours for his replicas of the Rogers Centre and CN Tower.

Tyler says he is excited - and a bit surprised - to be competing on the global stage.

"I didn't feel very prepared going into the contest because I wasn't sure what I was getting into," he says. "After the first day of competition I felt a lot more confident. When you get out there you think everybody knows more than you, but I learned that I know a lot more than I thought I did."

Still, he acknowledges that he has a lot more to learn before he goes to England. He'll be working hard over the next year and a half to improve his skills, with help from his teachers at Fanshawe, who have been with him every step of the way so far.

"Tyler's achievement could not have been possible without the support of his faculty advisor, Manufacturing professor Ian Neves," says Dr. John Makaran, Chair of Fanshawe's School of Applied Science and Technology. "Going to WorldSkills speaks highly of Tyler's dedication, as well as that of his faculty advisor, and to the strength of Fanshawe's program."

Neves has accepted an invitation to accompany Hackney to England as an Expert Trainer for Team Canada.

"I feel honoured to provide support to Team Canada and our student," says Neves. "I am excited to represent Fanshawe College, and in particular our Manufacturing programs, at the global level."

Held every two years, WorldSkills is the largest vocational skills competition in the world, attracting thousands of representatives from schools, colleges and training providers, governments, and employers. Over a thousand competitors representing 52 countries will participate in the 2011 event in England.

"It is always gratifying to see Fanshawe students achieving at such a high level," says Fanshawe president Howard Rundle. "Fanshawe's students are its statement to the world, and students like Tyler are a great endorsement of our programs. We wish him the very best as he competes in England."