E. C. Glass High School student Ezra Mancier had 15 hours to reverse-engineer the Mars Rover. Pages of technical drawings sprawled out before him. To the untrained eye, they’d be indecipherable. But Mancier knew exactly what to do.
He set out to create a true-to-scale digital 3D model of the iconic robot, following the drawings’ precise instructions. What’s more—he would have to modify the model to match change requests after submitting the first draft.
Designed by a NASA engineer, the assignment put Mancier’s mechanical engineering skills to the test. But he wasn’t the only one. He was up against about 40 high schoolers from across the U.S. The student with the most perfect model would be named the top technical drafting student in the country.
Mancier completed the assignment with hours to spare. At the awards ceremony afterward, they called his name from the stage. He won second place in the 2026 SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference.
“It’s a big deal for a sophomore to win this contest. He beat juniors and seniors with engineering internships. SkillsUSA is one of the most competitive student organizations, and the fact that Ezra earned this award is incredibly impressive,” E. C. Glass drafting teacher Kim Hansen said.
Only the best qualified for the national conference, held in Atlanta, GA, from June 1-5. In March, Mancier won first place in the Virginia SkillsUSA contest, earning the opportunity to compete as the state’s sole representative in the technical drafting category.
“I was shocked when I heard I won. It was a really, really great feeling,” Mancier said. “I was really focused on studying before the competition, and I was learning new things constantly during the trip.”
Drawing Pathways to Success
The national competition allowed Mancier to demonstrate the expertise he has developed through drafting courses at E. C. Glass. It also provided opportunities to learn more about engineering.
When he wasn’t working on his Mars Rover model, Mancier explored industry-standard equipment and software at the SkillsUSA expo. He even earned an Autodesk Inventor certification, which will give him a leg up as he explores future opportunities.
Mancier formed valuable professional connections through SkillsUSA. The NASA engineer who designed the Mars Rover challenge told him to reach out if he ever needs a reference for a job application.
“She was so impressed by the drawings that she said she’d hire every one of the top ten contenders if she could,” Hansen said.
SkillsUSA also presented opportunities to get to know his peers. Mancier connected with students from across the U.S. at the conference. He also explored Atlanta with the four other E. C. Glass students who competed at the national level: architectural drafting student Weston Dixon and criminal justice students Kendal Patterson, Sawyer Ness, and Tyler Turnbow. They attended an Atlanta Braves baseball game, visited the World of Coca-Cola museum, and rode the SkyView Atlanta Ferris wheel.
The Lynchburg City Schools Education Foundation covered the cost of student meals during the trip, and Hansen’s students helped fundraise by selling cups they laser-engraved themselves.
“The travel experience was new for me. I think gaining independence and getting used to being away from my family will help equip me for college,” Mancier said.
Designing the Future
Excellence runs in the Mancier family. Ezra’s brother, JP, won first place in the 2024 state SkillsUSA technical drafting contest. He’s now studying engineering at Liberty University. Ezra plans to follow in his footsteps.
“I want to be an engineer after college. I know so much about engineering already because of the drafting classes I’ve taken,” Mancier said.
Two years of drafting courses have given Mancier a solid foundation in engineering concepts and tools. Last year, he got a head start on his college education through Hansen’s dual-enrolled mechanical drafting class. He earned credits through Central Virginia Community College (CVCC) without leaving the E. C. Glass campus. But drafting isn’t the only career field Mancier has explored.
“I took an automotive technology class my freshman year, and it helped inspire me to consider automotive engineering as a future career option,” Mancier said.
Drafting and automotive technology classes have given Mancier the chance to explore future pathways early in his high school journey. Career and Technical Education (CTE) is helping him turn his natural talents into marketable skills.
Photo caption (from left to right): E. C. Glass students Ezra Mancier, Kendal Patterson, Sawyer Ness, Tyler Turnbow, and Weston Dixon.
Born to Create
“Ezra builds things. It’s the kind of person he is. He has a methodical, logical approach and an innate understanding of how things go together. He just needed to learn the tools and software to translate his ideas into something tangible,” Hansen said.
Mancier spends his free time tinkering with machines and creating whatever strikes his fancy. As a child, he loved playing with LEGOs. These days, he builds forts and treehouses in his backyard and takes apart machines to see how they work. He also makes electronic music and animates 3D visuals to accompany it using Blender. Skills honed in drafting class have made Mancier a better artist.
“Before, I was just using simple software to make my visuals, and I didn’t really know how to do much. But I’ve learned lots of things from my drafting classes and from competitions. Even though I’m using a completely different kind of software from the ones we use in class, there are still many similarities and 3D modeling concepts that apply across platforms,” Mancier said.
Mancier is a self-motivated learner and an enthusiastic hobbyist. He’s also on the school’s cross-country team.
“Ezra works very hard. His capacity for critical thinking has made him excel. He’s an amazing student,” Hansen said.
Mancier’s dedication is paying off. He started the semester with more confidence, life experience, and skill than he had at the beginning of the summer, thanks to his experience in Atlanta. This year, he’ll explore a new application of drafting through Hansen’s architecture course. He plans to compete in SkillsUSA again.
“SkillsUSA is a great opportunity for students to show off their skill set and build confidence in their abilities. The public doesn’t get to see their report cards or what they’re doing in class every day. But what these students are capable of is truly impressive, and they deserve to be recognized for it,” Hansen said.
Photo caption: E. C. Glass drafting teacher Kim Hansen (left) celebrates with Mancier after he receives his national award.