By Brandon Tucker, The Maple Ridge – Pitt Meadows News
A Maple Ridge student will be able to pursue his education with a much smaller financial burden on his shoulders thanks to his performance at the recent 2024 Skills Canada National Competition.
Eric Wu was one of more than 500 students who competed at the national event, with the participants divided into 45 different trades and technology categories.
It was in the Industrial Control division that Wu blew away the competition, taking first place and earning the $1,500 RBC Best Region Award.
“I found competing stressful at first, but once I got into it, it was fun,” said Wu. “Lot of practice and preparation allowed me to have success.”
After graduating from Garibaldi Secondary, Wu was accepted into the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), where he is working to further his technological prowess that allowed him to take home gold from the Skills Canada National Competition.
“I will be using my $1,500 RBC Best of Region Award towards tuition and my education,” said Wu. “My goal is to get a red seal certification.”
Some winners from the Skills Canada National Competition will be headed to France in September for the 47th WorldSkills Competition.