Downers Grove South High Students Place 1st, 2nd in State Architecture Competition

Two students from placed first and second in the Illinois Drafting Educators Association (IDEA)’s state competition April 14. 

Adam Newton, a junior, is the first DGS student to win an IDEA state championship two years in a row. Newton took first place and was the state champion in the 3D Architectural CAD competition. In 2011, he won the Architectural 2D competition.

Senior Chris Behnke placed second in the same category, 3D Architectural CAD.

The 3D Architectural CAD competition requires students to complete a fully-dimensioned floor plan as well as 3D virtual model of a residential home. All students must adhere to specific building parameters, as well as completing the project with a certain time constraint.

DGS' Ross Netzel, who competed in the Architectural CAD Drawing 2D category, and DGN's Jordan Gill, who competed in Assembly Modeling, also competed at state. Teacher Tony Ciezaldo sponsors the SkillsUSA program at North High.

The students competed against qualifiers from 20 regions across Illinois.

“Both Adam and Chris put in a lot of time and effort to prepare for this rigorous state contest,” said South High Teacher Mark Molinari in a district release. “Both students are highly skilled, and it’s exciting to see them creating a strong foundation for a future in architecture–or any number of skilled careers they may choose.”

Both South High and North High strive promote job skills and readiness in part by taking part in the SkillsUSA organization, SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry that works together to ensure America has a skilled workforce.