SkillsUSA champions · Karen Kitzel, Manager, Public Relations Darlenne Helena, Digital/Social...

FALL 2015

championsSkillsUSA

competitionsfrom nationals to WorldSkills

new modelsof excellence

leading the way to the White House

a college presidenttells why the nation

needs SkillsUSA

HowYouCanConnectToCareerSuccess

1 Results based on May/June 2014 survey, administered by a third party where GOJO was not identified as sponsor of the research. Survey of 450 workers and key decision makers in U.S. and Canada in industries where tough soils are encountered. Survey respondents mentioned GOJO more than any other hand cleaner brand in unaided awareness.

2 PURELL is the largest-selling instant hand sanitizer brand in food, drug and mass merchandise retailers according to Information Resources Intl. Strategic Consumer Research Inc. November 2004.

© 2015 GOJO Industries, Inc. All rights reserved.

The future of tomorrow’s

skilled workforce is in our hands.

It’s only natural that America’s #1 brand of

heavy duty hand cleaner1 and instant hand sanitizer2

join with the #1 champion for the next generation

of skilled workers and leaders in America.

www.GOJO.com

We are proud to support...

Hand-in-Hand for our future.

4 SkillsUSAChampionsFall2015

SkillsUSA

SkillsUSA’sOfficialMagazine14001SkillsUSAWay,Leesburg,VA20176-5494703-777-8810www.skillsusa.org

Magazine Staff/Office Of cOMMunicatiOnSTomHall,DirectorAnnSchreiber,Associate Director, CommunicationsCraigMoore,Manager, Web/TechnologyTomKercheval,Manager, Audiovisual Technology/

CommunicationsJaneShort,Program Manager, CommunicationsKarenKitzel,Manager, Public RelationsDarlenneHelena,Digital/Social Media Specialist

Office Of the executive DirectOrTimLawrence,Executive DirectorSandraMoore,Administrative Assistant

aDMiniStratiOn anD financeKimGraham,DirectorKeithAshby,Manager, Educational Resources/

National CenterMelissaWilson,Manager, Human ResourcesRoxanneHodge,Customer Service Representative

BuSineSS PartnerShiPS anD DevelOPMentKellyPersons,DirectorDaveWorden, Program Director, SkillsUSA

ChampionshipsJimKregiel, Program Manager, SkillsUSA

ChampionshipsLeslieLawrence,Corporate Development OfficerBrittneyColburn,Development Coordinator

eDucatiOn, training anD aSSeSSMentSHeidiWalsh,Program Director, Programs and Grant

ManagementNikiClausen,Associate Director, TrainingShellyCoates,Associate Director, Conference

Management ServicesStephanieBland,Program SpecialistAshleyRidgeway,Program Specialist, Conference

Management Services

Marketing, MeMBerShiP anD SaleSKellyHorton,DirectorJudyGarrison,Senior Manager, Membership ServicesPattyDuncan,Program Manager, Work Force Ready

System and Member ServicesGayleSilvey,Membership LiaisonTarynZeigler,Program Specialist, Member Services

and Assessments

kanSaS city Office • 816-691-3827ByekwasoGilbert,Program Manager, Alumni

aDvertiSing rePreSentativeS fOr SkillSuSa chaMPiOnSConstellationEnterprisesInc.53MainSt./P.O.Box508,CherryValley,NY13320607-264-9069

championsSkillsUSA

BOarD Of DirectOrSBrentKindred (Wisconsin)ChrisArvin (Caterpillar University)CharlesWallace(Maryland)JamesKing(Tennessee)DaveMilliken(Utah)PeggyTorrens(Kansas)KathleenCullen(National Association of State Direc-

tors of Career and Technical Education Consortium)AlexGromada(Association for Career and Technical

Education)PeterCarey(SkillsUSA State Directors Association)JenniferWorth(American Association of Community

Colleges)TroyDally(Lowe’s Companies Inc.)LaurieHackett(Air Products)RussHoffbauer(State Farm Insurance Companies)AliciaSmales(Snap-on Incorporated)ChrisTesmer(Newell Rubbermaid)CameronFerguson(Emeritus/Caterpillar Inc.)

natiOnal StuDent OfficerS/aDviSOrSHigH ScHoolKatherineLeung/PhilHowardell(Arizona)JonathanSarmiento/OscarContreras(New Mexico)PaytenStowe/CherylRees(Georgia)SkylarNelson/SeveroPerez(Texas)EdgardoCorrea/AnthonyRubenNajera(Texas)SamanthaDorwin/PamDorwin(Massachusetts)LucyBaldwin/MindyAcklen(Tennessee)AshleyGerstein/TerryGarringer(Wisconsin)SuzannaDillenger/StacyDeskin(Oklahoma)CalebNetterfield/PatrickMcCue(Washington)

college/PoStSecondaryDanteWilliams/CarlyAustin(Oklahoma)JeanVanDriel/JasonJuhnke(South Dakota)DanielleO’Brien/ThomasGauthier(Rhode Island)LucasSpringer/DavidPraiswater(Kansas)DavidFoss/BoydHestand(Tennessee)

champions

SkillsUSA champions onlineVisittheSkillsUSAChampions“e-zine”versionatwww.skillsusa.org/champions/ toflipthrougharticles,viewvideosandextraphotosandgetupdates.You’llfindarchivesofpastissues,adver-tiserlinks,lessonplansfornewissues,andmore.

Seeevenmorechampionsonourfrequentlyupdatedwebsite,www.skillsusa.org,aswellas:

Volume 50, No. 1SkillsUSAChampions(ISSN1040-4538)ispublishedfourtimesperschoolyear—Fall(October/November),Winter(December/January),Spring(February/March)andSummer(April/May)—bySkillsUSAInc.at14001SkillsUSAWay,Leesburg,VA20176.PeriodicalspostagepaidatLeesburg,VA,andatadditionalmailingoffices.Copyright2015bySkillsUSA.Allrightsreserved.Nonmembersubscriptions:$15peryear(SkillsUSAmembers,$1.30paidwithduesoraffiliationfees).

POSTMASTER:SendaddresscorrectionstoSkillsUSAChampions,Attn.:JudyGarrison,14001SkillsUSAWay,Leesburg,VA20176.

ThenamesSkillsUSA,SkillsUSAChampionshipsandSkillsUSAChampions;theSkillsUSA:ChampionsatWorkslogan;andtheSkillsUSAlogo,emblemandsloganartareallregisteredtrade-marksofSkillsUSAInc.Allrightsarereserved,andpermissionmustbegrantedbythenationalheadquartersofSkillsUSApriortoanyuse.

Inkeepingwithatraditionofrespectfortheindividualityofourmembersandourroleinworkforcedevelopment,SkillsUSAstrivestoensureinclusiveparticipationinallofourprograms,partnershipsandemploymentopportunities.

Fall2015SkillsUSAChampions 5

asktim

FieldGoalsinCharacter

Q&AExecutive Director Tim Lawrence has known SkillsUSA as a student member, instructor, industry partner and state director. Got a question? He can help.

Q: As fall comes each year, I think of the great athletes who demon-

strate skill and integrity on the field. How can I build tougher technical muscles and strong character?Tim: SkillsUSA is all about a triad of personal, workplace and technical skills. With this framework, students can strengthen their skills as they’re pushed to stretch their goals for the future. My personal goal each fall is to encour-age more people to support SkillsUSA. We’re expanding our programs through a strategic plan called Vision 2020. We want to reach more students, connect more members to industry, and continue to demonstrate excellence and expertise in our workforce readiness programs. We’re reaching more members than ever — 312,064 teachers and students, plus 47,803 alumni last year— and 15,000 people attended our latest national conference. An organization is only as strong as the individuals who belong to it. I hope this issue of SkillsUSA Champions challenges you to stretch your own goals as in the story of Dr. Annette Parker. A SkillsUSA graduate and former competitor, she has built a prestigious career as a college presi-dent and advocate for career and techni-cal education. Read about our SkillsUSA WorldTeam, victorious after competing in Brazil, with three international medals.

There’s an article on advisor Denise Foster, who for 30 years has put the spot-light on students, not herself. And, you’ll learn about our new team of national officers, a talented and diverse group. Character, like athletic skill or muscle, is built through practice and repetition until it is internalized and natural. You don’t develop strong character just by talking about community service or by wearing a T-shirt that supports a cause. Character is built through daily practice and the small decisions you make to do the right thing. I challenge you to work on your inner strength so you can be a strong link in the SkillsUSA chain. My advice for this new school year is, don’t settle for “good enough.” Look in the mirror. Do you like what you see? Look beyond the image in the glass. Do you like who you are? Strive to cultivate good character and excellence within yourself. Take on a new role in your chapter, at school and in your community. Rise to success this year. Together, we can make this a year to remember and build a strong foundation for a solid future. •Got questions about SkillsUSA or other topics? Email [email protected] or send a letter to the address on the facing page. Put “Ask Tim” in the subject line or mail address.

what’snew

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ur national conference just showcased the largest SkillsUSA Championships in the history

of civilization (see Page 8 for more). Rest assured, one of the things the winners of those 100 contests had in common was exceptional preparation. One of the best ways to prepare is to practice, and one of the best ways to practice your competition of choice is with “Contest Singles,” downloadable guidelines for individual events as well as official contest projects from the most recent SkillsUSA Championships. The latest batch, including the “Contest Specifications” CD-ROM (a compila-tion of all available guidelines), will be ready this fall. Get all the details at: www.skillsusa.org/store/singles.html. •


The Red Blazer

Galvanizes The White House

Oklahoma were named as National CTE Educator Innovators. First Lady Michelle Obama delivered the event’s keynote speech. “[CTE offers] high-quality programs that push students academically and challenge them,” she said. “CTE programs make sense.” The event also featured student projects and discussions on expanding CTE programs. For more, visit: www.skillsusa.org/skillsusa-officers-attend-white-house-event/. •

PrepareBeforeYouPerspire

SkillsUSA students and advisors were honored at a White House event this

summer celebrating innovators in career and technical education. Ahmad Shawwal and Benjamin Miller of Virginia and Oklahoma’s Stephanie Wilburn — members of the 2014-15 national officer team — were announced as CTE Student Innovators. Advisors Timothy McLeod and Thomas O’Day from Virginia and Todd Anderson of

Shawwal helps represent SkillsUSA

to the First Lady at a White House event celebrating

career and technical education.

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On May 8, faces from every era of SkillsUSA’s history came

together at the national headquar-ters in Leesburg, Va., for an official Founders Day celebration of the organization’s 50th birthday. More than 200 attendees — includ-ing state association directors, partners, government representatives, instructors and students — joined the festivities, all sharing a bond of pride in where SkillsUSA has been, where it is and where it’s headed. “The leader-ship program you run is so unique,” offered Simon Bartley, WorldSkills International president. “It’s some-thing every country in the world should be emulating.” Bill Prince, former staff director for President Ronald Reagan’s national drug policy board, repre-sented Tennessee at SkillsUSA’s founding meeting in 1965 as a student. “ ‘Preparing for leadership in the world of work,’ ” Prince said, remembering the organization’s motto. “We wrote it 50 years ago, and we’ve lived it every day since then. America beams with pride at [SkillsUSA’s] success.” For more, visit: www.skillsusa.org/skillsusas-50th-anniversary/. •

YOUNG AND OLD CELEBRATINGPAST AND FUTURE

SkillsUSA is always trying to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to serving our members. That’s why we commissioned a leading com-munications firm to conduct a full-scale audit gauging the effectiveness of, well, our communi-cations. Seventy-seven percent of students and advisors surveyed rated our overall communica-tions as “effective” or “extremely effective,” but there’s plenty of room for improvement. Look for those improvements in the months ahead, par-ticularly a stronger focus on digital and social media and a concerted effort to consolidate and streamline the info you need. Stay tuned! •

Let’sTalkAboutCommunication

Paving the way for the next 50 years

SkillsUSA is powered by its student members, so it’s fitting that when the

national headquarters in Leesburg, Va., wanted to update its entry walkway, a student competition was created to find the winning design. The winner was Brandon Boyle, an architectural design and computer-assisted drafting student at Wilson Technological Center in Dix Hills, N.Y. Masonry students from Leesburg’s C.S. Monroe Technology Center laid brick pavers in the walkway in time for its unveiling (see photo at left) at SkillsUSA’s 50th-anniversary event in May. For more, visit: tinyurl.com/SkillsUSA-Walkway. Order a personalized paver to be added to the walkway at: tinyurl.com/SkillsUSA-Paver. •Ph

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what’snew

When a big event uproots to a new location after decades in the same

spot, expectations are often lowered that first year to account for the “settling in” phase. In the case of SkillsUSA’s 2015 National Leadership and Skills Confer-ence — the first in Louisville, Ky., since 1993 — expectations were never lowered. By week’s end, they’d been exceeded. Once again, SkillsUSA’s latest NLSC was its biggest and best, setting all-time records in paid registration (10,485), competitive events (100) and competitors (6,086). In fact, for the first time, nearly every SkillsUSA Championships competi-tion was held under one roof in an expanse covering more than a million square feet of floor space. SkillsUSA also welcomed the first middle-school delegates and competitors in the organization’s history, and nearly 500 VIP guests — another record — attended from government and industry around the world. The annual community service event was the biggest it’s been in years, with more than 500 students and advisors freely offering their skills to service projects spread around eight different sites in the Louisville area. As always, the emotional climax of the week came during Friday’s Awards Ceremony, where 1,125 gold, silver and bronze medallions were awarded to the nation’s top career and technical students. “What you do [in] SkillsUSA ... is an American calling,” said Snap-on chairman and CEO Nick Pinchuk during his Opening Ceremony keynote speech. That call was answered in 2015. Relive the highlights with photos and video at: tinyurl.com/SkillsUSA-NLSC15. •

NEW-LOOK NLSC HITS THE GROUND RUNNING STRONG

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2015 CONFERENCE HONOREESAdvisor of the Year: Denise Foster, Put-nam Career and Technical Center, Eleanor, W.Va. (see story, Page 19)

Alumni Career Achievement Award: Jimmy Patronis Jr., Florida businessman and public official

Honorary Life Members: Roberta DePro-spero-Johnston, longtime advisor and SkillsUSA Pennsylvania supporter; Minnie Rodgers, 40-year advisor and state leader from Texas; Irene Saavedra, Los Angeles advisor with 15 national medalists; Scott Stump, former national board member from Colorado; Jennifer Polz, SkillsUSA Minnesota director; Kathy Mannes, for-mer SkillsUSA board member, now with U.S. Department of Labor

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Outstanding Alumni Award: Sam Fresh-ner, advisor/law enforcement instructor, Sabin Schellenberg Center, Portland, Ore.

Outstanding Educators: Don Bauc, long-time SkillsUSA Illinois director; John Rul-lan, CTE coordinator, Edison Career and Technical Education High School, Jamaica, N.Y.; Lane Yokoyama, longtime graphics instructor, Radford High School, Honolulu

President’s Volunteer Service Award: More than 100 individual SkillsUSA mem-bers and 12 teams received gold, silver or bronze awards. For the full list, go to: www.tinyurl.com/ln94our

Professional Development Program International Degree: Juliana Rosa, Vir-ginia; Esther Shafer, Maryland

Student2Student Mentoring Grand Prize: Minuteman High School, Lexing-ton, Mass.

Torch Carrier Award: Nick Pinchuk, Snap-on Incorporated •


what’snew

This year’s National Leadership and Skills Conference featured many

firsts, including the debut of the Models of Excellence awards, the pinnacle of the Chapter Excellence Program (CEP). Sponsored by Lowe’s, the CEP is focused on honoring the best SkillsUSA chapters nationwide based on student efforts in implementing the SkillsUSA Framework of personal, workplace and technical skills grounded in academics. Models of Excellence chapters are consid-ered the best of the best. Twenty-four were honored at the NLSC, and three of those received top honors in the frame-work’s three skills categories. Gloucester County Institute of Technol-ogy in Sewell, N.J., won in the techni-cal skills category. Members from 10 programs collaborated on a project that provided personal care and entertain-ment to veterans through the use of each program’s unique skill set. Somerset County Vocational and Technical High School in Bridgewater, N.J., earned top honors for personal skills. Members promoted SkillsUSA to hundreds of area families during an open house event, acting as ambassadors, engaging parents and more. Palestine (Texas) High School was honored for workplace skills. While supporting a local abuse shelter, the cosmetology chapter showcased its ability to plan, organize, demonstrate multi-cultural awareness and work as a team. Each of the 24 chapters were provided a $2,000 grant from Lowe’s, honored at the NLSC Awards Ceremony and given other recognition items. For more on the CEP and how to apply for these awards in 2016, visit: http://tinyurl.com/CEP-SkillsUSA. •

MODEL CHAPTERS SET STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE

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• A&M Consolidated High School, College Station, Texas

• Buckeye Hills Career Center, Thurman, Ohio

• Buena High School, Sierra Vista, Ariz.

• Cambridge High School, Milton, Ga.

• Central Arizona Valley Institute of Technology, Coolidge

• Chantilly (Va.) Academy• Cross Keys High School, Atlanta• East Laurens High School,

Dublin, Ga.• Fairfield Career Center,

Carroll, Ohio• Fort Vancouver High School,

Vancouver, Wash.• Gloucester County Institute of

Technology, Sewell, N.J.• Hobbs (N.M.) High School• Kofa High School, Yuma, Ariz.• Lynn (Mass.) Vocational Technical

High School

• Maxwell High School of Technology, Lawrenceville, Ga.

• Palestine (Texas) High School• Providence (R.I.) Career and

Technical Academy• Putnam Career and Technical

Center, Eleanor, W.Va.• Sandy Creek High School,

Tyrone, Ga.• Somerset County Vocational

and Technical High School, Bridgewater, N.J.

• Southeast Regional Occupational Program — Norwalk (Calif.) High School

• Tennessee College of Applied Technology — Harriman

• Union County Voca-tional-Technical Schools, Scotch Plains, N.J.

• Union Grove High School, McDonough, Ga.

MODELSOFEXCELLENCECHAPTERS


SkillsUSA has been the official U.S. rep-resentative to the WorldSkills Com-petition since 1973. This year’s team of students was one of the largest in history.

The SkillsUSA WorldTeam traveled to Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Aug. 7 to represent the United States in the

43rd WorldSkills Competition. It’s the first time the biennial event has been hosted in South America. The 18-member team competed in 16 skill areas, some for the first time ever for the United States. There were more than 50 other countries competing. Brock Miesner won a bronze medal in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning. Andrew Cardin received a medallion of excellence in Welding. Lauryn Erickson received the Best of Nation medallion for racking up points in Hairdressing. Competitors experienced their host country through various activities, such as a city tour and an excursion to a resort park for a true Brazilian barbecue experi-ence. Another highlight was “One School, One Country,” a program in which they visited children at a local school. The U.S. team was accompanied by an additional 37 people, including team leaders, official delegates, observers, technical experts, sponsors, government officials and family members. •

ON THE WEB

h Watchaneight-minutevideorecapat:https://youtu.be/z7sEgf8F6dE

h Checkoutthephotosfromthe2015WorldSkillsCompetitiononFlickr:http://bit.ly/WorldTeam2015

h AlcoaFoundationwaspresentingspon-sorfor2015’sSkillsUSAWorldTeam.Tolearnmore,visit:www.alcoa.com/global/en/community/foundation/info_page/about_skillsusa.asp

Clockwise from top left: Brock Miesner of St. Ann, Mo., competes in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning; Michigan’s Maria Buko and Arizona’s Nick Taylor waiting to enter the arena just prior to the Opening Ceremony at the Ginásio Ibirapuera-SP in Sao Paulo; Tennessee’s Erica Heckman and Daniel Dossett confer during the Manufacturing Team


Challenge competition; Taylor hard at work during the Web Design event; Andrew Cardin of Sutton, Mass., Miesner and Lauryn Erickson of Hersey, Mich., show off their me-dallions after the Awards Ceremony; Erickson concentrates during the Hairdressing event; Cardin just after completing the Welding competition. (Photos by Craig E. Moore)

MARIABUKOBakingThe Culinary Insti-tute of America

Hyde Park, N.Y.

ANDREWCARDINWeldingBlackstone Valley

Regional Vocational and Technical High School

Upton, Mass.

LAURYNERICKSONHairdressingMecosta Osceola Career Center

Big Rapids, Mich.

DANIELFURRBricklayingNorth Carolina State University

Raleigh, N.C.

ERICAHECKMANTeam Manufactur-ing Challenge

Tennessee College of Applied Technology — Knoxville

BROCKMIESNERRefrigeration and Air Conditioning

State Technical College of Missouri

Linn, Mo.

MICHAELMULLENAutomobile Technology

Cuesta CollegeSan Luis Obispo, Calif.

JAKERIVARDMechanical Engineering Design/CAD

Worcester (Mass.) Polytechnic Institute

CHRISROYEAPlumbing and Heating

Barre (Vt.) Technical College

NICKTAYLORWeb DesignArizona State University

Tempe, Ariz.

SPENCERWOLFGraphic Design Technology

Sinclair Community College

Dayton, Ohio

RYANWOMBLEMechatronicsChattanooga (Tenn.) State Com-munity College

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DANIELDOSSETTTeam Manufacturing Challenge

Tennessee College of Applied Technology —Knoxville

IANGWALTNEYMechatronicsChattanooga (Tenn.) State Community College

DUSTINMORTSOLFHeavy Vehicle Maintenance

Highland Community College

Atchison, Kan.

BAILEEROMEROBeauty TherapyManatee Technical Institute

Bradenton, Fla.

LUISVAZQUEZ

Restaurant Service

Collin College

Plano, Texas

JACOBWOZNIAKCabinetmakingMarc Adams School of Wood-

working/Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology

Lancaster, Pa.

David Foss II, ParliamentarianTennessee College of Applied Technology, Knoxville

Lucas Springer, TreasurerWashburn Institute of Technology, Kansas

Danielle O’Brien, SecretaryJohnson & Wales University, Rhode Island

Jean Van Driel, Vice PresidentMitchell Technical Institute, South Dakota

Dante Williams, PresidentTulsa Technology Center, Oklahoma

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“[SkillsUSA] is a place where you can come show your skills and network with many students.”

College/Postsecondary Officers


National OfficersAt this year’s National Leadership and Skills Conference,

delegates from across the nation gathered to elect a new national officer team. These SkillsUSA national

officers (pictured at right) completed their training in late July. They’re excited to embark on their journey as national representatives of the organization they feel has already had a massive impact on their lives. “It’s been a life changer,” says college/postsecondary president Dante Williams. “I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for SkillsUSA. And because of SkillsUSA, I now know that I can do more than just be average. I can be amazing. Everyone can be more than just average.”

Many of the national officers describe their SkillsUSA membership as something that has not only helped them achieve personal growth, but also allowed them to give back to their communities. When asked what being a part of SkillsUSA has been like for him, Lucas Springer, college/postsecondary treasurer, says, “To me, it’s meant that as an individual, I can be empowered to do my best and help others obtain that, and be able to grow as individuals to strengthen our communities, our states, and our nation as a whole.” It is the team’s goal to connect with members of the orga-nization throughout the upcoming year and build a strong network of SkillsUSA leaders. “It has opened my eyes to see that this organization is very, very diverse. It’s not where you come from, it’s a place where you can come show your skills and network with many students,” says high-school parliamentarian Edgardo Correa. The national officers are currently working on new ways for our members to interact. Are you excited to see what new ways to stay connected they’ll bring to SkillsUSA? Keep an eye out this year! •

Life Changers … Eye Openers …

By Darlenne Helena

Skylar Nelson, TreasurerJudge Barefoot Sanders Law Magnet, Texas

Katherine Leung, PresidentParadise Valley High School, Arizona

Edgardo Correa, ParliamentarianPorter High School, Texas

Jonathan Sarmiento, Vice PresidentHobbs High School, New Mexico

Payten Stowe, SecretaryHarris County High School, Georgia

Samantha Dorwin, Region 1 VPMcCann Technical School, Massachusetts

Lucy Baldwin, Region 2 VPCoffee County Central High School, Tennessee

Ashley Gerstein, Region 3 VPLakeview Technology Academy, Wisconsin

Suzanna Dellinger, Region 4 VPMid-America Technology Center, Oklahoma

Caleb Netterfield, Region 5 VPBothell High School, Washington

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Regional Vice PresidentsHigh School Officers

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Technology,Chattanooga;RyanLarko,Deming(N.M.)HighSchool•PracticalNursing:LorenaMendoza,Porter(Texas)HighSchool;AlyssaMcAl-lister,ColumbiaBasinCollege,Pasco,Wash.ActionSkills:KhyranLawson,Tulsa(Okla.)Technol-ogyCenterLemleyCampus;JacobJones,SunAreaTechnicalInstitute,NewBerlin,Pa.•AmericanSpirit:(teams)HartCountyHighSchool,Hartwell,

Ga.;Augusta(Ga.)TechnicalCollege•CareerPathways

Showcase:(teams)ManateeTechnical

College,Bradenton,Fla.(threemedals);OhioHi-PointCareerCenter,BellefontaineCampus;Pinellas

TechnicalCollege,St.Petersburg,Fla.;

Mentor(Ohio)HighSchool;Downey(Calif.)

HighSchool;LaMirada(Calif.)HighSchool;ShawsheenHighSchool,Billerica,Mass.;TennesseeCollegeofAppliedTechnology,Elizabethton;UpperCapeCodRegionalTechnicalSchool,Bourne,Mass.•ChapterBusinessProce-dure:(teams)GloucesterCountyInstituteofTech-nology,Sewell,N.J.;CanadianValleyTechnologyCenter,ElReno,Okla.•ChapterDisplay:(teams)Delaware(Ohio)AreaCareerCenter;CentralGeor-giaTechnicalCollege,Macon•CommunityActionProject:ReymundoRocha/ChristianReyes,SidneyLanierHighSchool,SanAntonio•CommunityService:(teams)BlackstoneValleyRVTHS,Upton,Mass.;CatawbaValleyCommunityCollege,Hickory,N.C.•EmploymentApplicationProcess:ThelmaClark-Thomas,GeorgiaPiedmontTechnicalCollege,Clarkston;KeatonJones,JamesSteeleAcceleratedHighSchool,Roanoke,Texas•Entrepreneurship:(teams)CatawbaValleyCommunityCollege,Hickory,N.C.;ShadowMoun-tainHighSchool,Phoenix•ExtemporaneousSpeaking:TaylorBlanchard,Pueblo(Colo.)CountyHighSchool;JamesOelschlager,FortScott(Kan.)CommunityCollege•JobInterview:JorgeBerchelt,Tulsa(Okla.)TechnologyCenterLemleyCampus;CarlosGuerrero,DubiskiCareerHighSchool,GrandPrairie,Texas•JobSkillDemon-strationA:MeganDorrity,Ogden-WeberAppliedTechnologyCollege,Ogden,Utah;CaitlinHrenchir,KernHighSchoolDistrictRegionalOccupationalCenter,Bakersfield,Calif.•JobSkillDemonstra-tionOpen:TiffanyHammond,TennesseeCollegeofAppliedTechnology,Chattanooga;AlyssaVasquez,Splendora(Texas)HighSchool•OccupationalHealthandSafety–Multiple:(team)BuckeyeHillsCareerCenter,RioGrande,Ohio•OccupationalHealthandSafety–Single:(teams)GeorgeStoneCenter,Pensacola,Fla.;CrossKeysHighSchool,Atlanta•OpeningandClosingCeremonies:(teams)NorthPlatte(Neb.)HighSchool;ThomasKellyHighSchool,Chicago•OutstandingChap-

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TURE AND CONSTRUCTION

ArchitecturalDrafting:BradleyNielson,UtahValleyUniversity,Orem,Utah;KatherineChase,StaffordSeniorHighSchool,Falmouth,Va.•Building

Maintenance:RicardoHernandez,SlawsonOccupational

Center,Bell,Calif.;KeltonLawver,Mid-East

CareerandTechnol-ogyCenters,Zanes-ville,Ohio•Cabi-netmaking:DavidMiller,SaintPaul

College,St.Paul,Minn.;JustinLewis,

UtahValleyUniversity,Orem,Utah•Carpentry:

ChristopherMoran,HillyardTechnicalCenter,St.Joseph,Mo.;MatthewVolmer,FortScott(Kan.)CommunityCollege•ElectricalConstructionWiring:DanRiha,MetropolitanCommunityCollege,Omaha,Neb.;NicholasWiegand,NorthPointHighSchoolforScience,TechnologyandIndustry,Waldorf,Md.•Masonry:LukeDutton,WestRowanHighSchool,MountUlla,N.C.;AlexOssowski,CentralCabarrusHighSchool,Concord,N.C.•Plumbing:JesseHornback,Elizabethtown(Ky.)TechnicalCollege;RobertFluke,UpperCapeCodRegionalTechni-calSchool,Bourne,Mass.•ResidentialSystemsInstallationandMaintenance:ChadwickClements,WiregrassGeorgiaTech-nicalCollege,Fitzgerald,Ga.;NateReeder,AdaProfessional-TechnicalCenter,Meridian,Idaho•TeamWorks:(teams)SaltLakeCommunityCollege,SaltLakeCity,Utah;Vanguard-SentinelCareerandTechnologyCenter(CTC)SentinelCampus,Tiffin,Ohio

3-DVisualizationandAnimation:DavidDraper/IvanJones,WestCareerandTechnicalAcademy,LasVegas;BrettAmann/IsaacNelson,SaltLake

CommunityCollege,SaltLakeCity•AdvertisingDesign:JuanAlvarado,DesMoines

AreaCommunityCollege,Ankeny,Iowa;CiaraJacobi,SussexTechnicalHighSchool,Georgetown,Del.•Audio/Radio

Production:TrevorHarding/Hayden

Manwaring,UtahValleyUniversity,Orem,Utah;

BrettHawran/JacobHawran,A.I.PrinceTechnicalHighSchool,Hartford,Conn.•BroadcastNewsProduction:(teams)SoutheastHighSchool,Bradenton,Fla.;OzarksTechnicalCommunityCollege,Springfield,Mo.•GraphicCommunications:ChandlerKerr,CenterofAppliedTechnologyNorth,Severn,Md.;TiffanyVang,River-side(Calif.)CommunityCollege•GraphicsImag-ing–Sublimation:AustinHutchison,AutryTech-

nologyCenter,Enid,Okla.;CoreyTodalen,Austin(Minn.)HighSchool•InteractiveApplicationandVideoGameDevelopment:(teams)CollegeStation(Texas)HighSchool;EasternOklahomaCountyTechnologyCenter,Choctaw,Okla.•Photography:ChaseZamulinski,CollegeStation(Texas)HighSchool;JeffKnox,CollegeofSouthernNevada,NorthLasVegas,Nev.•PinDesign(StateConference):DerekFontenot,MooreNormanTech-nologyCenter,Norman,Okla.;MilesMcMahan,AcademyofArts,CareersandTechnology,Reno,Nev.•Television(Video)Production:ArielGold-stein/JustinValli,WestCareerandTechnicalAcademy,LasVegas;CarlosHernandez/WinfredMorris,ManateeTechnicalCollege,Bradenton,Fla.•T-ShirtDesign:KaliDuffey,MooreNormanTechnologyCenter,Norman,Okla.;OliviaHurley,CarrollCountyCareerandTechnologyCenter,Westminster,Md.

BasicHealthCareSkills:FrancescaNiro,BlackstoneValleyRegionalVocationalTechnicalHighSchool

(RVTHS),Upton,Mass.•CrimeSceneInvestigation:(teams)

CatawbaValleyCommu-nityCollege,Hickory,

N.C.;CharihoCareerandTechnicalCenter,WoodRiverJunction,R.I.•CriminalJustice:Michael

Wells,ChattahoocheeTechnicalCollege

NorthMetro,Acworth,Ga.;ColtonMcPhail,

HancockCountyTechnicalCenter,Ellsworth,Maine•DentalAssisting:LoganBrown,GuilfordTechnicalCommunityCollege,Jamestown,N.C.;DaniSpangler,PutnamCareerandTechnicalCenter,Eleanor,W.Va.•Firefighting:DylanMoore,Richmond(Ind.)HighSchool;CalebJosephSpire,HillyardTechnicalCenter,St.Joseph,Mo.•FirstAid/CPR:DakotaClement,UnitedTechnologiesCenter,Bangor,Maine;TracyVogt,GwinnettTechnicalCollege,Lawrenceville,Ga.•HealthKnowledgeBowl:(teams)Cranston(R.I.)AreaCareerandTechnicalCenter;WilkesCommunityCollege,Wilkesboro,N.C.•HealthOccupationsProfessionalPortfolio:AmberVillella,OrleansCareerandTechnicalEduca-tionalCenter,Medina,N.Y.;TeresaRobinson,Arkan-sasCareerTrainingInstitute,HotSprings•Medi-calAssisting:KathleenMavarakis,GuilfordTechni-calCommunityCollege,Jamestown,N.C.;TaylorMcNeil,ShawsheenHighSchool,Billerica,Mass.•MedicalMath:JuliePerry,WilkesCommunityCollege,Wilkesboro,N.C.;EvanMettenbrink,Seward(Neb.)HighSchool•MedicalTerminol-ogy:YeshaParekh,SomersetCountyAcademyofMedicalSciences,Bridgewater,N.J.;MalloryReefer,YTICareerInstitute,Altoona,Pa.•NurseAssist-ing:CherryferIrizarry,TennesseeCollegeofApplied

GOLDMedalists


SCIENCE, TEC

HNOL

OGY,

ENGIN

EERING AND MATH/INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

M

ANUFACTURING

ter:(teams)Tulsa(Okla.)TechnologyCenterPeoria;CatawbaValleyCommunityCollege,Hickory,N.C.•PreparedSpeech:JordanMartin,CareerandTechnologyCenter,Independence,Mo.;GraceStokes,CuestaCommunityCollege,SanLuisObispo,Calif.•PromotionalBulletinBoard:MariaLopez/LaurenPassey,AutryTechnologyCenter,Enid,Okla.;LydiaStrickland/ChristineSvrcina,Mililani(Hawaii)HighSchool•QuizBowl:(teams)OconeeFallLineTechnicalCollege,Dublin,Ga.;UnionGroveHighSchool,McDonough,Ga.•ScreenPrintingTechnology:TravisHatha-way,Waynesville(Mo.)CareerCenter;KimberlyJeppson,SaltLakeCommunityCollege,SaltLakeCity

AdditiveManufacturing:BodhiKnight/JohnTilelli,ManateeTechnicalCollege,Bradenton,Fla.;JoshuaFuller/TylerThomas,TriCounty

RegionalVocationalTechni-calSchool(RVTS),Frank-

lin,Mass.•Auto-matedManufacturing

Technology:(teams)RichardCreteauRegionalVocationalCenter,Rochester,N.H.;Pennsylvania

CollegeofTechnology,Williamsport•CNC

MillingSpecialist:ThomasUrquhart,Dixie

AppliedTechnologyCollege,St.George,Utah;CodyPeterson,Alexandria(Minn.)TechnicalandCommunityCollege•CNCTechni-cian:RyanRodzos,St.ClairTechnicalEducationCenter,Marysville,Mich.;GiovanniAguilar,John-stonCommunityCollege,Smithfield,N.C.•CNCTurningSpecialist:IsaacRutten,NorthDakotaStateCollegeofScience,Wahpeton;ColtFreeman,ApolloCareerCenter,Lima,Ohio•Heating,Ventilation,AirConditioningandRefrigeration:AndrewShupert,WarrenCountyCareerCenter,Lebanon,Ohio;MatthewBoden,Mitchell(S.D.)TechnicalInstitute•IndustrialMotorControl:BenjaminGibson,UtahValleyUniversity,Orem,Utah;RyanTauber,CenterofAppliedTechnologyNorth,Severn,Md.•MajorApplianceandRefrig-erationTechnology:MarkJernigan,ManateeTech-nicalCollege,Bradenton,Fla.;ChristianMcLeod,GreaterNewBedford(Mass.)RVTHS•RoboticsandAutomationTechnology:LukeHayes/CalebLundahl,UtahValleyUniversity,Orem,Utah;PatrickWesterberg/MitchellLeVasseur,Pinckney(Mich.)HighSchool•SheetMetal:RobertBrown,RowanCabarrusCommunityCollege,Salisbury,N.C.;JonathanPerez,DelcastleTechnicalHighSchool,Wilmington,Del,•TechnicalDrafting:BrianBarrows,Nashua(N.H.)HighSchoolSouth;KylePotts,PennsylvaniaCollegeofTechnology,Williamsport•Welding:PaulMcCullough,SouthandWestWashtenawConsortium,Saline,Mich.;BradleyHayden,PennsylaniaCollegeofTechnology,

Williamsport•WeldingFabrication:(teams)SanLuisObispo(Calif.)HighSchool;NorthCentralKansasTechnicalCollege,Beloit•WeldingSculp-ture:PhillipBoyd,TennesseeCollegeofAppliedTechnology,Crump;AnthonyDeAngelis,DelcastleTechnicalHighSchool,Wilmington,Del.

CommercialBaking:AnnieYamamoto,TruckeeMeadowsCommunityCollege,Reno,Nev.;HayleeStephens,SoutheastCareerTechnicalAcademy,Las

Vegas•ComputerProgram-ming:JasonHicks,Ozarks

TechnicalCommunityCollege,Springfield,

Mo.;MichaelLay,Vanguard-SentinelCTCVanguardCampus,Fremont,Ohio•Cosmetol-

ogy:StaciGalvez,Ogden-WeberApplied

TechnologyCollege,Ogden,Utah;LauraCoro-

nel,Bloomington(Ill.)AreaCareerCenter•CulinaryArts:StaceyRustand,NorthDakotaStateCollegeofScience,Wahpeton;JerryJo,Columbia(Mo.)AreaCareerCenter•CustomerService:McCallRafferty,Hampshire(Ill.)HighSchool;LeslieHolmes,NorthshoreTechnicalCommunityCollege,Bogalusa,La.•DigitalCinemaProduction:DylanDeMarce/CalebCurran,SouthCentralCollege,NorthMankato,Minn.;AmberKarnish/AndrewLisle,Har-BerHighSchool,Springdale,Ark.•EarlyChildhoodEducation:AngelaHoskins,Fayetteville(N.C.)TechnicalCommunityCollege;AnnaWalker,PickensHighSchool,Jasper,Ga.•ElectronicsTechnology:AndrewHastreiter,Marshfield(Wis.)SeniorHighSchool;BruceSmalley,SouthernUtahUniversity,CedarCity•EngineeringTech-nology/Design:(teams)MontachusettRVTS,Fitchburg,Mass.;UtahValleyUniversity,Orem,Utah•Esthetics:DanielaMorales,Elkhart(Ind.)AreaCareerCenter;MeganPruett,JonesCountyJuniorCollege,Ellisville,Miss.•HumanoidRobotics:JacobProctor/LoganBlake,HillyardTechnicalCenter,St.Joseph,Mo.•InformationTechnologyServices:JustinSinkula,DakotaCountyTechnicalCollege,Rose-mount,Minn.;ChrisAyoub,WestwoodHighSchool,Austin,Texas•Internetworking:AlexGibson,VincennesUniversity,Vincennes,Ind.;BenjaminSimon,MiddletonHighSchool,Tampa,Fla.•Mechatronics:JordanAlberico/KaraRaksin,NorthMontcoTechnicalCareerCenter,Lansdale,Pa.;EricO’Rear/JaceDavis,TennesseeCollegeofAppliedTechnology,Chattanooga•MobileElectronicsInstallation:ChristopherMeduna,Bismarck(N.D.)CareerAcademy;MichaelAlmaguer,SlawsonOccu-pationalCenter,Bell,Calif.•MobileRoboticsTechnology:DavidMitchem/TerryTilley,WyomingCountyCareerandTechnicalCenter,Pineville,W.Va.;MorganChen/DarrenSrivathanakul,Rich-

TRAN

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One hundred competitions were held at 2015’s SkillsUSA Championships, newly organized by career cluster. These winners are the best of the best.

Forthenamesofall

gold,silverandbronzemedalists,aswellasthoseinteamsofthree

ormore,visit:www.skillsusa-register.org/rpts/EventMedalists.

aspx

ardson(Texas)HighSchool•NailCare:BrianaKnackstedt,KaskaskiaCollege,Centralia,Ill.;AlexStapleton,SullivanCentralHighSchool,Blountville,Tenn.•PrinciplesofEngineering/Technology:JoeyLopez,TexasStateTechnicalCollege,Waco;HannahRodriguez,Downey(Calif.)HighSchool•RelatedTechnicalMath:ChristopherBrinkerhoff,UtahValleyUniversity,Orem,Utah;TheodoreLiu,Waunakee(Wis.)HighSchool•RestaurantService:SarahBobier,TraverseBayAreaCareer-TechCenter,TraverseCity,Mich.;DexterDale,NavajoTechnicalUniversity,Crownpoint,N.M.•Robot-ics:UrbanSearchandRescue:BenjaminBrady/ArsenioTaylor,TennesseeCollegeofAppliedTech-nology,Whiteville;DillonArnold/AnthonyArrigo,BlackstoneValleyRVTHS,Upton,Mass.•TeamEngineeringChallenge:(team)Kapolei(Hawaii)MiddleSchool•TechnicalComputerApplica-tions:ZacharyJenkins,LakeCountyHighSchoolsTechnologyCampus,Grayslake,Ill.;ThomasKoch,MississippiGulfCoastCommunityCollege,Gulf-port•TelecommunicationsCabling:ClaytonKincart,KirkwoodCommunityCollege,CedarRapids,Iowa;PatrickKeefeJr.,PinkertonAcademy,Derry,N.H.•WebDesign:BetsyHijazi/AndrewWernick,SaltLakeCommunityCollege,SaltLakeCity;ColtonFitzgerald/NicoleOverman,SouthwestCareerandTechnicalAcademy,LasVegasAutomotiveRefinishingTechnology:BenjaminFalconer,AimsCommunityCollegeWindsor,Gree-ley,Colo.;AmandaBaker,RankenTechnicalCollege,St.Louis•AutomotiveServiceTechnology:

ThomasHahn,Joliet(Ill.)JuniorCollege;JonathonBall,Aber-

deen(Wash.)HighSchool•AviationMainte-nanceTechnology:AlexandriaPompeii,MiamiValleyCareerTechnologyCenter,Clayton,Ohio;Jordan

Lummis,WesternMichiganUniversity,

BattleCreek•CollisionRepairTechnology:

JedidiahLong,TennesseeCollegeofAppliedTechnology,Knox-

ville;LukeSabey,WarrenOccupationalTechnicalCenter,Lakewood,Colo.•DieselEquipmentTech-nology:AnthonyLangeland,CareerlineTechCenter,Holland,Mich.;RyanWalker,Portland(Ore.)CommunityCollegeatRockCreek•MarineServiceTechnology:JacobMathis,PinellasTechnicalCollege,Clearwater,Fla.;RobertKoss,EauGallieHighSchool,Melbourne,Fla.•MotorcycleServiceTechnology:AustinOlin,NorthDakotaStateCollegeofScience,Wahpeton;AnthonyLitz,WallenpaupackAreaHighSchool,Hawley,Pa.•PowerEquipmentTechnology:AustinTerry,Gads-denTechnicalInstitute,Quincy,Fla.;StefanDavis,CuyahogaValleyCareerCenter,Brecksville,Ohio•

Visit www.SkillsUSAstore.org

SkillsUSA helps students excel. Whether it’s studying for exams or applying for college, we’ve got the tools every SkillsUSA member

needs to show their champion colors.

Shop our incredible SkillsUSA classics, find essential supplies, or purchase the perfect gift for

your member, parent, teacher or advisor.

Visit us online at SkillsUSAstore.org

Show Your champion colors


One of the greatest traits of leaders is not how much they talk, but how much they listen. “The

hardest thing for me to do today is to talk about myself, because I’m in it for the kids. I listen to people. I guide them. I support them. I don’t do a lot of talking — and especially about myself,” says SkillsUSA’s 2015 Advisor of the Year. Denise Foster has been a dental assisting instructor at Putnam Career and Techni-cal School in Eleanor, W.Va., for 30 years. In that time, Foster has learned quite a few things about teaching. First, letting students know you have noticed them is extremely important. “It’s about building relationships,” she explains. In 1976-78, Foster was herself a student in the same dental assisting program and served as president of her SkillsUSA chapter, then known as VICA. She completed the program, went to work for a local dentist and enjoyed instructing patients on routine dental care. When her former teacher retired, Foster jumped at the opportunity to interview for a position and was hired in 1986. Now it’s her final year of teaching. Foster will end her career in the place she started — where, as a student, she learned to develop X-rays, studied anatomy of the head and neck, and gained the confidence that can only come from a caring advisor.

By Karen N. Kitzel

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A Way to

FosterThis top advisor has trained award-winning dental assistants for decades. Now a new program is helping put teeth into her chapter workBright Futures

Born to teach: Foster, a student member herself while studying dental assisting in the 1970s, has served as a SkillsUSA advisor for 30 years.

WEB RESOURCESh WanttolearnmoreabouttheSkillsUSA

ChapterExcellenceProgram?Goto:www.skillsusa.org/membership-resources/advisors/membership-kit/

h HaveyoueverconsideredadentalassistingcareerlikeDeniseFoster’sstudents?Outlookandsalarydetails:www.bls.gov/ooh/Healthcare/Dental-assistants.htm

h Foster’sstudentslovecommunityservice.Neednewideas?www.teenlife.com/blogs/articles/50-community-service-ideas-teen-volunteers


JWU student Danielle O’Brien ’16 was elected National College/Postsecondary Secretary at SkillsUSA’s National Leadership and Skills Conference in Louisville, Ky.

Visit www.jwu.edu/NSO for more information.

You can continue your involvement in SkillsUSA when you enroll

at Johnson & Wales University — and expand your leadership,

communication and team-building skills. Where will your JWU

SkillsUSA experience take you?

EXPERIENCE MORE NOW.BE A LEADER TOMORROW.

2015 SkillsUSA Ad for NSO_v2.indd 1 8/24/15 11:57 AM

Today, her students travel from four different high schools to study in the same classroom. The SkillsUSA advisor says she would never have been involved with the student organization if not for a teacher who encouraged her to run for office. “He came up to me and said, ‘You need to do this,’ and I thought he was crazy,” Foster remembers. “It just took that one person believing in me.”

A new measure of excellenceHonored at the 2015 SkillsUSA confer-ence, she is the first from her state to receive the Advisor of the Year award. “Maybe I am doing something a little bit special or above and beyond. [But] it is hard for me to think that, because I feel like I am doing what I am supposed to be doing,” Foster says. “I do everything that I can in my power to follow the standards that SkillsUSA puts out. “I believe in the same things that SkillsUSA believes. And that’s in rela-tionships. That’s in workmanship and that’s in leadership. The curriculum that SkillsUSA gives me to teach these foun-dational beliefs makes my job easier as a

teacher because it incorporates with my curriculum.” Foster says SkillsUSA’s new Chapter Excellence Program helped change the dynamic at her technical center. It used to be all about chapter membership, she explains, and the school was not as focused on quality SkillsUSA programming. “It’s no longer just a few instructors doing everything for the school. Chapter Excellence is a way for students to enhance their portfolios when they finish school by being involved in community service, public relations and professional development,” she adds. Her chapter was one of 24 national Models of Excellence this year (see Page 10). Foster isn’t just a SkillsUSA advisor with passion; she instructs a high-quality educational program, too. One of her students, Kirsten Spangler, was the gold medalist in dental assisting at the 2015 SkillsUSA Championships. Meanwhile, Foster’s Opening and Closing Ceremonies team came in fourth in the nation. Foster beams with pride as she talks about some of the community service projects her students carry out. Her “tooth

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“At some point in everyone’s life, they need a person like Mrs. Foster: someone who wants you to succeed,” says her student, national gold medalist Kirsten Spangler. Above, Foster receives the national award from Clay Roccaforte of Air Products, which sponsors the Advisor of the Year program.

REG

I O N A L F I N A L I ST S

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better technicians or machine operators of large and small

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Over 26 years, many students have traced their success to Wayne Lee of Pine Forest High School in Fayette-ville, N.C. One of them, now dean of a community college, still calls him “Mr. Lee.” A product of SkillsUSA himself, the drafting instructor sees potential in students even when they don’t it see themselves.

Gene Karas has started a SkillsUSA chap-ter at four dif-ferent schools in the past 42 years. A former state association director in Illinois, Karas made his way west to California and now teaches construction technology at Petaluma High School. His passion has inspired confidence in countless members.

Minnesota’s Todd Huxford is lead advisor at South Central College in North Mankato. He was a student member there as well, in heating, ventilation, air conditioning and

refrigeration. In 25 years of making SkillsUSA part

of his program, he’s had many state

champions — including his son and daughter.

“I’ve always wanted to be a person that

kids come to,” says Katrina

Fiorenza, who teaches business,

hospitality, and college and career readiness. Proof

of her success: growing membership at Adirondack High School in Boon-ville, N.Y. Developing life skills for over two decades has been “a true gift.” •

fairies” march in parades wearing scrubs and pass out toothbrushes. The students teach elementary-school children how to properly brush and floss and about nutri-tion. They do drug and tobacco education as it relates to oral health. “My students are healthcare profession-als, so we have that need to help other people, and community service falls right in line with the class,” Foster explains. Spangler gives her instructor high marks for support and encouragement. “At some point in everyone’s life, they need a person like Mrs. Foster: someone who wants you to succeed at whatever it is you want to do. All her students can tell you at least one way she impacted their lives.” Foster sums up her career this way: “When I started, I knew teeth. And I knew my heart for VICA. I knew what VICA had done for me, and that was a life-changer. “For my students, whatever they wanted to do, I was going to help them find the skills and the resources so that they could do that,” she adds. “I push them beyond what they think they can do, because I see that in them.” •

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SkillsUSA has helped me gain the skills I’ll use after my high school career.

My plan is to go into biomedical engi-neering. Through SkillsUSA, I’ve learned how to present my ideas in an understand-able way. When I joined as a freshman, I wasn’t able to clearly express them, but competing in Job Skill Demonstration Open for the past three years has allowed me to develop my public speaking skills.

The relationship that my father and I have with Mr. Yoks is a prime example of how SkillsUSA is constantly growing as the younger generations become members.

A big difference in my life I may be one out of many SkillsUSA members, but I am one of four children in my family. My siblings and I have always shared numerous things with one another, ranging from hand-me-downs to bedroom space that consists of just a sturdy bed and a drawer for clothing. My mother always reminds me that “to gain something, you must also give up something.” I have come to realize that while SkillsUSA has given me continuous skills over the past three years, I have also given up activities that I can’t give as much attention to as I have SkillsUSA. In relation to this idea of gaining and giving up, I had hopes of gaining support from the mikeroweWORKS Foundation to compete at the national conference. Receiving the scholarship gave me the opportunity to give my parents some financial relief. What I gained from attending nationals has definite meaning. I came so close to a medal in my national competition. My SkillsUSA advisor was sitting in a different row than me, but I could tell he was watching for my compe-tition, too. When it came up on screen, it was hard to watch. Many of the other students from Hawaii were off receiving their medals. I wanted to get one, too, but it was not meant to be. When my name didn’t appear for any of the places, Mr. Yoks came over and whis-pered in my ear, “I’ll be honest, I was kind of bummed for a couple of seconds that you didn’t win, but you made top eight in the country. I am so proud of you!” We hugged, then wiped away a few tears before any of the others came back. We would find out later at our state meeting that I was in second place after the first round and finished fourth in the finals. I learned a lot from this experience. SkillsUSA has really made a big differ-ence in my life. I may not have won a national medal, but I have gained so much more in other ways. •The mikeroweWORKS scholarship is one of many offered through SkillsUSA. Visit: www.skillsusa.org/membership-resources/scholarships-financial-aid/

Getting a bronze medal as a sopho-more, then finally taking gold in Job Skill Demonstration and state Pin Design as a junior, I also gained the insight that hard work pays off. Representing my state at this year’s National Leadership and Skills Conference was truly an honor, as only a few Hawaii students attend (in compari-son to much larger states such as Califor-nia and Texas).

‘I have gained so much’ThelastingbenefitsSkillsUSAofferscancrossgenerations,studentsays

I’ve learned how serving the community is important, too. With support mainly from my family and my SkillsUSA advisor, Mr. Lane Yokoyama, I saw how this is another essential aspect of SkillsUSA, which some may not be aware of. I’ve been honored with a bronze-level President’s Volunteer Service Award for the past two years. Everyone can use some form of help every day, and Mr. Yoks (short for Yokoyama) has truly shown me that ideal. Mr. Yoks also shared his vast knowledge of information with my father when he was a part of this organization during his own high school career. As crazy as it sounds, Mr. Yoks was one of the few who started off with SkillsUSA when it was introduced to Hawaii 25 years ago, and he continues to keep the spirit alive. I remember when my father first found out that I was joining SkillsUSA, he used its old name VICA instead, giving us a common ground we continue to share.

Hawaii’s Jordan Abanto believes in learning something new every day. As a President’s Volunteer Service Award winner, he also knows the importance of serving his community. Here, the graphic communications student from Honolulu’s Admiral Arthur W. Radford High School shares how SkillsUSA has taught him to keep his options open.

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By Ann P. Schreiber

A Powerful ConnectionDrives an Important Ally

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When the automotive industry downshifted, Annette Parker found SkillsUSA. Now, as a college president, she works tirelessly to ensure support for career and technical education.

Then Parker was called to Kentucky, where her leadership was needed in training the manufacturing workforce. In six years, her collaborative grew to include 35 colleges and 35 automotive plants in 12 states. After becoming responsible for the state’s postsecondary CTE programs, Parker earned a doctorate in educational leadership. She stayed on with SkillsUSA as a state board member and contest judge. Now president of Minnesota’s South Central College, with campuses in North Mankato and Faribault, Parker has served on President Obama’s Advanced Manu-facturing Partnership Steering Commit-tee and testified for the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Subcommittee. As a member of a National Academy of Science panel, she’s providing guidance to reauthorize CTE funding offered by the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006. “She credits much of her success to this organization,” says SkillsUSA Minnesota director Jennifer Polz. “I know it holds a special place in her heart.” SkillsUSA’s training is important, Parker says. “What we’re looking at as a nation is employability skills. Some employees will say, ‘Just give me those [technical] skills, and I’ll be all set.’ Well, no, both are needed, and SkillsUSA gives you both. That’s why it’s a great organization.” •

Her father was a machinist; her mother, a graphic designer. Annette

Parker embodies the best of both profes-sions. She’s forged a career ranging from industrial drafting to designing workforce development programs. She attended Parkside High School in Jackson, Mich., and worked for General Motors in Lansing for 11 years. During the recession of the early 1980s, Parker left GM to attend Lansing Community College (LCC) and earn a degree in industrial drafting. With another student, she started the campus’ first VICA chapter (now SkillsUSA). As a member of its Automated Manufacturing team, she competed in the national demonstration contest. LCC took note. Parker was hired as a student employee, then as a lab technician. Rising from part-time faculty to full-time, she eventually joined the administration. SkillsUSA was a tool for success. “I was a student, and then my students became advisors, and they have students,” she says. As a teacher and advisor, Parker fielded medal-winning SkillsUSA competitors. She served as a contest technical commit-tee member and judge. Under her leader-ship, state competitions were held at the community college for 14 years. “I think since I’ve been a student, I’ve only missed two national conferences,” she adds.


Findthephoto,winaprize No, the picture on the left isn’t abstract art. It’s actually a distorted part of another photo in this issue. Find the original photo and send us the page number where it appears to win a SkillsUSA special “sackpack” (first prize) or travel mug (second prize). To enter, email your answer, name, address and phone number to [email protected] (include “Photo Contest” in the subject line). Or, send to SkillsUSA Photo Contest, 14001 SkillsUSA Way, Leesburg, VA 20176. One first- and one second-prize winner will be drawn at random from the correct entries. Entries must be received by Nov. 15. Congratulations to last issue’s winners: Cheyenne Norton of Leola, Pa., and Evan Lind of Keymar, Md. •

toolbox

Make Sure You UnderstandWhat You’re Getting Into

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When you commit yourself to joining an organization, it’s important to

understand the history of what you’re a part of, what the organization’s foundation is built on, and what it takes to be an effec-tive, contributing member. As a class, split into small groups. Each group should answer the following ques-tions: Where was SkillsUSA founded? What is the SkillsUSA Creed? What are the seven areas of the Program of Work? What are the five parts of the SkillsUSA emblem and what does each part repre-sent? What is SkillsUSA’s mission? Regroup as a class to see which group answered the most questions correctly. If you had trouble, you probably don’t have a copy of the SkillsUSA Leadership Handbook. It contains everything members should know, from organizational struc-ture to getting the most out of member-ship, and a newly revised and updated version has just been released. To get a copy for yourself or your chapter, visit: www.skillsusa.org/membership-resources/chapters/leadership-handbook/. •

A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way.

— John C. Maxwell

spotlight


Bucket-toting, fundraising volunteers for a nonprofit, Abigail’s Plan, sport T-shirts printed by Sandy Wheeley’s Lawrence (Tenn.) County High

School graphics class. The Abigail’s Plan logo, designed by Wheeley, has become the brand identity of the nonprofit and is used on a variety of items. Abigail’s Plan seeks to raise $350,000 to build a rubberized baseball field for people with disabilities. Named for Abigail Kidd, who was born with Down syndrome, the group supports a Buddy Ball baseball league for those with

A NEW PLACE FOR HOMELESS KIDS TO PLAY

A smooth approach to baseball

Katie Gigliotti fixing up Louison House.

ZerotoleranceStudents at Lanier High School in San Antonio learned how truancy, teen preg-nancy and gang problems at their school were related to alcohol and drug abuse. Through mentoring, resource booths and presentations to students, teachers and the community, these Texans hope their Zero Tolerance awareness and prevention campaign is making a differ-ence. •

Students, faculty and staff from McCann Technical School in North

Adams, Mass., helped spruce up Louison House, their area’s homeless shelter. With funds raised selling candles, they repainted the play room, added peel-and-stick images to the walls and bought a toy kitchen set. Louison House and its Family Life Support Center were created 25 years ago to address homelessness in the region. Typically, one-third of clients are children. •

DissectingacareerplanHealthoccupationsstudentsatSikeston(Mo.)CareerandTechnologyCenter

participateinProjectHope(HelpingOther

PeopleEverywhere).Thegoalsoftheprogram

includebuildingleadershipskillsinhigh-

schoolstudentsanddevelopinghealthypeer

relationshipsthroughmentoringfifth-and

sixth-graders.Toexposeyoungerchildrento

careersinhealthoccupations,theSikeston

studentsheldadissectionlearninglab(right).Amongother

activities,theyholdanoralhealtheducationprogramnearHalloween,and

deliverhand-madeblanketstocancerpatientsbeingtreatedattheMissouri

DeltaCancerandInfusionCenter.•

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Maggie McKnight (left) and Kristan Sowell print T-shirts for Abigail’s Plan.

disabilities. For people with mobility issues, the smooth rubber-ized playing field is easier to navigate. Several members of the Buddy Ball team are Wheeley’s students, and many of her other students have relatives and friends in the Buddy Ball League. For more about Abigail’s Plan, visit: www.abigailsplan.org. •

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SkillsUSA Champions features our members’ photography. We’re looking for images of SkillsUSA chapters in action, or ones that show individual members’ concentration or perseverance. For details, email [email protected] (put “Image Photo” in the subject

header) or write SkillsUSA Champions, 14001 SkillsUSA Way, Leesburg, VA 20176. The photographer’s chapter is awarded $150. •

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I’ve never seen this much energy and enthusiasm and spirit and talent as I see in this room tonight.

Kentucky Lt. Gov. CritLuallen at the opening ceremony of SkillsUSA’s national conference

Competitors from various contests enjoy a break during the state SkillsUSA conference at the Georgia National Convention Center. “The genuine smile on the student’s face is what caught my atten-tion, and I fumbled for my camera to capture the moment,” says Jason Phillips, an instructor at Lakeside High School in Evans, Ga.

SkillsUSA has taught me to seek those people in my life that inspire me, cause me to think and challenge me. I have learned to surround myself with the very people who leave me off balance, wondering and inspired.Former national officer Karen Ward, now executive director ofSkillsUSA Massachusetts, at SkillsUSA’s 50th-anniversary gala

WITH 50 SOLID YEARS BEHIND US, SUPPORT OUR AMBITIOUS STEPS FORWARD.

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SkillsUSA’s National Leadership Centeris located in Leesburg, Virginia, approximately 50 miles northwest of our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. �e building houses the SkillsUSA sta� and historical displays. Along with welcoming in�uential visitors such as industry executives, manufacturers and VIPs from education and government, it has meeting space for student, teacher and business conferences.

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SkillsUSA champions · Karen Kitzel, Manager, Public Relations Darlenne Helena, Digital/Social...

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