Georgian’s Mark Reckzin strikes gold at Skills Canada
June 6, 2019
For the second time in a month, Mark Reckzin has graced top spot on the podium with his gold medal win in the Skills Canada competition. Reckzin, who is finishing his final semester in the Mechanical Engineering Technology program at the Barrie Campus, earned the highest mark in the Mechanical Engineering CAD category at the national competition held last week in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
The national competition saw 500 of Canada’s secondary and postsecondary students – from hairstylists to electricians – competing for medals in their fields.
“The competition was a fun experience and I had the opportunity to meet a number of people in my field,” says Mark. “It was such a thrill to win and I’m happy to know that hard work and practice pays off.”
Mark says that while there weren’t as many competitors as when he competed in the provincial Skills competition held earlier in May, the competition was fierce and featured the best from across the country. “It was amazing – everyone there was at the top of their field and it was great to see the dedication and work everyone put into this competition. I would really encourage other students to get involved in the Skills competition when faculty members ask for participants. It’s a bit of a commitment, but very worthwhile.”
Georgian faculty member and team coach Tanveer Sayed was extremely proud of Mark’s performance.
“Mark is meticulous, focused and has a great career ahead of him,” says Tanveer. “He’s a model student and a joy to have in the classroom and program. He’s also involved in many activities beyond his classes.”
Tanveer adds that the majority of the preparation was already embedded into the learning outcomes of Georgian’s four Mechanical CAD courses. “It’s great to know that not just Mark, but every student in those courses has a skillset enabling them to succeed in the industry,” says Tanveer.
Mark will formally graduate at convocation ceremonies in October. He plans to continue his studies, completing his degree in mechanical engineering and eventually acquire his P.Eng.