Sandvik Coromant has donated time, support and resources to the 2009 SkillsUSA Championships. SkillsUSA, a national, nonprofit organization dedicated to students and professionals in trade, technical and skilled service occupations, held the annual competition during the National Leadership and Skills Conference in Kansas City, from 21 – 26 June. More than 15,000 students and instructors were on hand to participate in a variety of hands-on skill and leadership contests designed to measure an individual’s ability against the skills necessary for entry-level jobs. Contests covered 84 subjects and ranged in diversity from precision machining and CNC milling technology to masonry and cosmetology. Sandvik Coromant was a major sponsor of the Precision Machining Championship, which featured 68 students from across the country competing in manual milling, manual turning, CNC milling and CNC turning contests. The participants competed in NIMS Level I & II manual machining skills and knowledge areas including operation of manual milling machines and lathes. Judges also evaluated their knowledge of CNC programming skills using a PC, as well as related knowledge and skill in the areas of engineering drawing interpretation, GD&T, technical math, machining practices, use of precision measuring/hand tools and the ability to communicate verbally using proper industry terminology.