(Winners from the district contests are, from left, Arthur Franchi, Sierra Melton, and Joseph Burcham)
Sports and Fine Arts are not the only ways that Pulaski County students shine, and a group of students have proved that again during the month of February at the annual SkillsUSA District VII Leadership and Skill contest at Salem High School.
SkillsUSA is an organization that empowers its members to become world-class workers, leaders, and responsible American citizens. They work to improve the quality of our nation’s future skilled workforce through the development of SkillsUSA Framework skills that include personal, workplace, and technical skills grounded in academics. Their vision is to produce the most highly skilled workforce in the world, providing every member the opportunity for career success.
SkillsUSA provides its members the opportunity to showcase their skills in 13 main career clusters. Those include Audio/Video Technology and Communication; Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources; Architecture and Construction; Health Science; Hospitality and Tourism; Human Services; Information Technology; Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security; Leadership; Manufacturing; Marketing; Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics; and Transportation Distribution and Logistics.
The Pulaski County Career and Technical Education Center, located on the campus of Pulaski County High School, offers students the opportunity to explore each of these fields and potentially earn state or national certification in their chosen fields before graduating high school. It also offers them the option of going directly into the workforce after graduation.
The PCHS SkillsUSA Advisor is Mrs. Julie Anderson, who is also the CTE Center Cosmetology Instructor.
“SkillsUSA members and contestants embody the mission statement through competition, community service, and providing a skilled workforce upon completion of their program area as well as represent what the SkillsUSA theme is this year: SkillsUSA - Our Time is Now,” Mrs. Anderson said. “It is their (student members) time to show up and compete and earn the privilege to represent on all levels!”
During an awards ceremony Thursday, February 23, several Pulaski County students were recognized for their performances their potential career path. Several of these groups and individuals also earned the right to move on to the SkillsUSA Skill and Leadership Conference April 21-23 in Virginia Beach.
The students who will advance to the next level include the group of Sierra Melton, Cierra Zimmer, and Emmaley Powell for their second-place finish in the Promotional Bulletin Board competition. Sierra Melton earned second place in the Customer Service event. Danielle Bolling earned second place in the Welding event. Memphis Taylor earned third place in the Criminal Justice portion. Joe Burcham earned first place in the Job Skill Demonstration A competition. The Quiz Bowl team of Joe Burcham, Cierra Zimmer, Sierra Melton, Arthur Franchi, Carley Bentley, and Emmaley Powell also earned first place to advance.
The #2 team of Hannah Schumann, Caitlin Nester, and Charlene Byrd earned fourth place in the Crime Scene Investigation competition. The #1 Crime Scene Investigation team of Cierra Zimmer, Ashton Sarver, and Kambi Foster finished sixth in the same event.
Additionally, in the Automotive Service Technology competition two students placed. Joseph Burcham finished in sixth place. Hailey Cantrell finished in eighth. In the Maintenance and Light Repair category, Laken Greever finished sixth and Mia Speed finished seventh. Sarah Lovingood placed third in the Welding event.
“Pulaski County is so very proud of all of the student competitors who competed on the District level,” Mrs. Anderson said. “They have worked really hard in practicing and preparing for contests and it definitely shows when students move from district level to state level and will represent our school and district on the state level.”
