Water Innovation Challenge 2014: Team USA
Nicholas Michalenko has wide-ranging skills competition experience at SkillsUSA district, state and national levels, WorldSkills Americas 2012 and WorldSkills Leipzig 2013.
He obtained a Massachusetts Journeyman plumber license in 2013, and following his Water Innovation Challenge experience in Singapore he plans to continue working towards his master plumbers license.
Timothy Patrick Murphy is an Apprentice Plumber with Boulanger’s Plumbing & Heating in Easthampton, Massachusetts; a Welding shop graduate from Lincoln Technical College East Windsor, Connecticut, and a Plumbing shop graduate from Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School in Northampton, Massachusetts.
As well as SkillsUSA competition experience (at district, state, and national levels), he has background in water supply piping, drainage, maintenance in residential and commercial buildings plus torch cutting, arc, mig and tig welding.
Sarah Parker is an Advertising & Design student at Appalachian State University, North Carolina. Being successful in the advertising world has always been her highest hope, and she has found SkillsUSA to be the ideal platform to develop her profession. Sarah believes the Water Innovation Challenge is a unique opportunity to enhance her communications skills and continue building her profile in the international advertising industry.
Competing in Graphic Design Technology at WorldSkills Leipzig 2013, Sarah travelled outside the US for the first time. She believes that the Water Innovation Challenge Singapore 2014 experience will help her develop further international awareness to build the career path she is most passionate about.
“Nothing in this world can stop me from reaching my goals. My national win in 2010 gave me so much strive, that anything I can do to give back to the amazing SkillsUSA organization means a lot to me.”
Judith Torres is a Graduate Mechanical Engineer and currently works with Progressive AE in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She supports design of mechanical systems for various building projects, including load analysis, equipment sizing, ductwork sizing and hydronic systems.
She has further experiences in CAD, plumbing system design, project costing, rainwater catchment systems, LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design green building certification) and International Building Code.
In 2012 Judith travelled to the village of La Pila in Guatemala to complete a preliminary site survey for reliable and cost-effective ways of providing drinking and household water needs. This trip was part of a college course, and designed as a potential future project for the Engineers Without Borders student chapter. “It was a life changing experience both culturally and professionally. I experienced a different environment and need for engineering than ever before. This triggered an interest in Green Engineering, specifically in water conservation and reuse.”
“Through Water Innovation Challenge I want to further my experience and awareness of new systems, and design for different environments and variety of cultures. I aim to become an ambassador for these new innovative systems to help raise awareness within my company, professional societies and country.”