Local Students Attend SkillsUSA Conference and Skill Competition

LOCAL STUDENTS ATTEND SKILLS USA CONFERENCE AND SKILL COMPETITION

Derek Staggs, Lawrence County High School and Jeremy Ballentine, TTC Pulaski, are going to be in Kansas City, Missouri this week as delegates and competitors at the 47^th National Leadership and Skills Conference sponsored by SkillsUSA.  Derek will be competing in the Postsecondary Plumbing competition after winning Gold at state competition in Chattanooga.  Jeremy will be campaigning and running for an office in SkillsUSA. 

During their stay, the students will participate as voting delegates for their state, elect their national officers, conduct the business of their organization, meet with business and industry representatives and hear from government officials.  And, they have fun, too.

Some of the students will participate in the SkillsUSA Championships, held on Wednesday, June 22, and Thursday, June 23.  More than 5500 students compete in more than 93 occupational and leadership skills areas.  SkillsUSA programs also help to establish industry standards for job skill training in the classroom. 

SkillsUSA is a national organization that serves trade, industrial, technical and health occupations students in public high schools, career and technical centers and schools and two-year colleges.  SkillsUSA has more than 300,000 student members annually, organized into more than 3600 schools and 54 state and territorial associations (including Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands).  Since 1965, SkillsUSA has served more than 10.4 million members. 

Currently, more than 16,389 teachers and school administrators serve as professional SkillsUSA members and instructors.  More than 1,100 business, industry and labor sponsors actively support SkillsUSA at the national level through financial aid, in-kind contributions, and involvement of their people in SkillsUSA activities.  Many more work directly with state associations and local chapters. 

Good luck to Derek and Jeremy!