Montgomery, Ala. – The Olympic Games are not the only event where America’s best work hard to “bring home the gold.” Two weeks ago, some of Alabama’s top students traveled to Kansas City, Missouri, to participate in exciting national competitions and advanced leadership workshops at the 2009 SkillsUSA National Leadership Conference and Championships, June 22-26.
“Our students and teachers have really made Alabama’s SkillsUSA organization one of the best in the nation,” said Myron Laurent, Alabama’s SkillsUSA State Director. “This year we had 97 students representing the state in national competitions at this conference. This was a great experience for our students. They had an opportunity to see exactly how their skills measure-up, from a national perspective.”
SkillsUSA is an organization devoted to preparing students for careers in technical, skilled, and service occupations. It serves over 300,000 high school, college, and professional members. Alabama has approximately 9,000 members who enjoy this organization’s many benefits.
This year, more than 5,400 students participated in the national SkillsUSA championships. This year’s national medal winners from Alabama are:
CNC Milling Technology
High School Division
· Brandon Errington – Earnest Pruett Center of Technology; Bronze Medal
College/Postsecondary Division
· Joseph King – Calhoun Community College; Gold Medal
Computer Maintenance Technology
College/Postsecondary Division
· Theo Walston – J. F. Drake State Technical College; Gold Medal
Computer Programming
College/Postsecondary Division
· Peter Corcoran – Lawson State Community College; Gold Medal
Crime Scene Investigation (team event)
High School Division
· Anthony Stevens – Shelby County School of Technology; Silver Medal
· Sunjett Singh – Shelby County School of Technology; Silver Medal
· Taylor Hudson – Shelby County School of Technology; Silver Medal
Esthetics (team event)
College/Postsecondary Division
· Kelly Hudson – Lurleen B. Wallace Community College; Gold Medal
· Raychel Bland– Lurleen B. Wallace Community College; Gold Medal
Masonry
High School Division
· Joey O’Connor – DeKalb County Technology Center; Bronze Medal
College/Postsecondary Division
· Bradley Wright – Wallace State Community College -Selma; Gold Medal
Prepared Speech
College/Postsecondary Division
· Jay Calhoun – Wallace State Community College –Sparks; Bronze Medal
Technical Drafting
High School Division
· Isaac Wasilefsky – Huntsville Center for Technology; Silver Medal
Welding
High School Division
· Joshua Smith – Shelby County School of Technology; Gold Medal
College/Postsecondary Division
· Joey Foster – Wallace State Community College; Gold Medal
“There is research indicating that quality technical education programs are one of the best deterrents to high drop-out rates among high school students,” says Laurent. “Technical students have a real chance to make their education relevant, develop their talents, and hone their skills for the future. Just look at what these young people have accomplished this year, simply because they had the opportunity.”
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND STATISTICS:
· A total of 244 Alabamians attended this year’s National SkillsUSA Conference – 97 student contestants, 6 state student officers, and 141 teachers, parents, and supporters.
· Alabama students competed in 75 different national contests. They earned eight gold medals, four silver medals, and three bronze medals.
· Alabama’s students were Top Ten national finalists in 33 contests this year.
· Students from all 50 states and four U.S. territories are members of SkillsUSA.
· Approximately 14,000 people attended this year’s national SkillsUSA conference.
Alabama’s career and technical education (CTE) programs offer students opportunities to participate in seven different student organizations including SkillsUSA. Currently, one out of every two high school students in Alabama participates in CTE programs.
To learn more about SkillsUSA or any of the educational opportunities offered by Alabama’s CTE programs, contact SkillsUSA State Director, Myron Laurent, at (334) 353-4522 or visit www.skillsalabama.org.