24 SkillsUSA Schools Named National Models of Excellence
Contributed by SkillsUSA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Honored as 2023’s Most Outstanding SkillsUSA Programs
Leesburg, Va. — SkillsUSA has named 24 SkillsUSA schools as Models of Excellence for 2023. The annual program recognizes the exceptional integration of personal, workplace and technical skills into SkillsUSA chapter activities. This is the highest honor bestowed on chapters by SkillsUSA, which is among the largest student organizations for career and technical education.
The focus of Models of Excellence is student-led activation. These students learn and practice the skills that every employer seeks, including leadership, initiative, communication, teamwork and problem solving by taking the lead on all SkillsUSA activities. Their SkillsUSA instructors take the education of these students to the next level by guiding them, but never doing the work for them, elevating learning from classroom instruction to successful application of skills.
“Our Models of Excellence represent the very best in SkillsUSA chapter achievement and community involvement,” said Chelle Travis, executive director of SkillsUSA. “These students represent America’s future skilled workforce and are future leaders in their local communities. It is a tremendous honor for these chapters and the recognition validates these outstanding SkillsUSA programs and schools.”
The 24 SkillsUSA chapters selected as Models of Excellence will be evaluated in June at the SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference for top honors. A panel of judges will interview and evaluate each of these chapters based on their goals, student-led plan of action, results, evaluation and SkillsUSA Framework integration. Business and industry partners will conduct finalist interviews with students and advisors on June 21, a recognition dinner will also be held on June 21 and the top three schools will be recognized on June 23 during the SkillsUSA Awards Ceremony at State Farm Arena. The top three schools receive national recognition and the opportunity to share their stories through SkillsUSA in publications and trainings.
Congratulations to the following schools on being named Models of Excellence:
Auburn High School, (Ala.)
Douglas High School, (Ariz.)
River Valley High School, (Ariz.)
Valley Academy for Career and Technology Education, (Ariz.)
Armijo High School, (Calif.)
Cape Cod Tech, (Mass.)
Greater Lowell Tech High, (Mass.)
Greater New Bedford RVTHS, (Mass.)
Lynn Vocational Technical Institute, (Mass.)
Center of Applied Tech North, (Md.)
Dorchester Career & Technology Center, (Md.)
Bay Arenac ISD Career Center, (Mich.)
New Madrid County R-I Technical Skills Center, (Mo.)
Nash Community College, (N.C.)
Hobbs High School, (N.M.)
Oneida Herkimer Madison BOCES CTEC, (N.Y.)
WEMOCO Career and Education Center, (N.Y.) Buckeye Hills Career Center, (Ohio)
Upper Valley Career Center, (Ohio)
Vanguard-Sentinel CTC-Vanguard Campus, (Ohio)
Gordon Cooper Technology Center, (Okla.)
Center for Advanced Technical Studies, (S.C.)
Tennessee College of Applied Tech-Harriman, (Tenn.)
Tennessee College of Applied Tech-Pulaski, (Tenn.)
The Models of Excellence program promotes the intentional learning of personal, workplace and technical skills outlined in the SkillsUSA Framework for student development. Specific characteristics defined within each skill area provide tangible benchmarks for student achievement and chapter programming. Achievement is measured by student efforts in implementing essential workplace skills including personal responsibility, integrity, work ethic and organization in chapter activities. The hands-on approach of this program actualizes the SkillsUSA mission of empowering members to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens.
###
About SkillsUSA
SkillsUSA is America’s proud champion of the skilled trades. It’s a student-led partnership of education and industry that’s building the skilled workforce our nation depends on with graduates who are career ready, day one. Representing nearly 380,000 career and technical education students and teachers, SkillsUSA chapters thrive in middle schools, high schools and college/postsecondary institutions nationwide. SkillsUSA’s mission empowers students to become skilled professionals, career-ready leaders and responsible community members. That mission is accomplished through the SkillsUSA Framework of Personal Skills, Workplace Skills and Technical Skills Grounded in Academics, which is integrated into classroom curriculum. Through Framework instruction, students develop the character-shaping leadership skills — teamwork, communication, professionalism and more — that successful careers and lives demand. At the same time, students hone their high-level technical skills against current industry standards in more than 130 skilled trade areas, from 3-D Animation to Welding. The result? Focused, confident and highly skilled graduates who are ready to work, ready to lead and ready to make a difference in our schools, workplaces and communities. A vital solution to the skills gap, where more in-demand skilled trades positions are available than qualified professionals to fill them, SkillsUSA has served over 14 million difference-making members since 1965. For more, visit www.skillsusa.org.
