Reedley College welcomed high school students from across the Central Valley to its annual Tiger Romp on April 10th. This large-scale, hands-on event provides students with an opportunity to experience what real-world careers are like. The Tiger Romp was an event for students involved in Career Technical Education (CTE) programs, providing them with the opportunity to demonstrate the skills they had learned in the classroom through competitions and interactive workshops. In various fields, including healthcare, firefighting, cooking, automobile repair, and law enforcement, competitions are designed to replicate actual job tasks, making students feel as though they are in a real-life situation.
Each station at Tiger Romp was led ot judged by college professionals. These professionals offered feedback and insight into the industries they represented, providing students with valuable advice and exposure to what employers expect. Tiger Romp also helped students become more familiar with the college campus, as they offered tours and led them to their peers to assist in various classrooms around the campus. Outside of the competition areas, students could visit booths, speak with college staff, and dine at food trucks. While the focus was on skills and careers, the environment was friendly and more learning-oriented.
This year, Dinuba High School had a positive impact on the students. Not only did they participate in a variety of competitions, but they also brought home multiple awards and reactions that speak to their preparation and skill.
In the animation category, Daniel Gutierrez-Madrigal earned a bronze medal, Amy Cardenas and Alexis Chaves also won a silver medal, making them among the highest-scoring winners from Dinuba. In Video Game Design, the team of Saul Lopez and Martin Figuero brought home a bronze medal while Emmanuel Guzman and Boysie Campo took gold in the same category.
Inside Photography, Omar Jacobo Ramos and Jesus Saldana, placed 3rd despite competing as beginners against advanced-level students. “I’ve been practicing all my life,” said Jacobo when asked how prepared he felt.
Other notable wins include Jaskinie Tomas winning 2nd place in aviation Mechanics, Zahyd Contreras winning 2nd place in culinary arts, Selena and Ximena Villegas both winning 3rd place in Women’s Firefighting, and Emmanul Guzman taking the show’s top prize, winning 1st place in video game design.
Despite the placement, students had a lot to say about their experience participating in Tiger Romp. Senior Ava Arias, who competed in the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) category, spoke about how meaningful it was to her.“It was a good experience! I think it was fun, we already know how to do a lot of these skills, so it was fun to be able to compete with stuff that we already knew how to do.”
Nathaneal Rios, who competed in Urban and Rural Firefighting, emphasized how much his team grew from the challenge.”We all get our past set scores, I think, just as people in general; we haven’t experienced this many local schools. So it was fun. “
Edwaredo Guzman, who completed in automotive, admitted he didn’t have much hands-on practice beforehand, but still enjoyed the event. “I wasn’t really practicing; we wrote a lot of notes, so I knew what I was getting myself into. I think I did pretty well.”
For Dinuba High School, Tiger Romp wasn’t just a field trip or a competition; it was a learning experience for students, allowing them to step into their future.
