Several Career and Technical Education students from Carson High School were recognized at the 2021 SkillsUSA Championships, the largest skill competition in the world, that took place virtually.
Carson High’s two teams of students competed amongst 3,700 students invited to demonstrate their technical, workplace and personal skills in 107 hands-on occupational and leadership competitions focusing on robotics, robotics, automotive technology, drafting, criminal justice, aviation maintenance and public speaking.
The contests were evaluated by industry leaders from 650 businesses, corporations, trade associations and unions, and students were judged for their skills against expectations for entry-level workers. Approximately 1,000 judges representing the various industries and technical committee members took part in the championships.
The event was virtual due to the pandemic with proctors supervising and judges evaluating students’ work.
Carson High teams included Team H, consisting of Kasandra Medina-Torres, Leah Roylance and Gisela Vazquez, which won the High School Silver medal in the Promotional Bulletin Board. The bulletin boards promote SkillsUSA, career and technical education and occupational education, and students follow documentation according to a notebook to construct the board and provide an oral presentation.
Carson’s Team F, consisting of Nevan Mcilwee and Cash Farnworth, won the High School Bronze medal in Mobile Robotic Technology. Teams competing in this category were required to solve a certain task implementing a robotic system given by a technical committee. Students had two opportunities to solve the challenge and when finished, they might have been introduced to a design change, all the while required to observe industry standards using the equipment and software given to them.
Sherri Kelley, Carson High’s SkillsUSA adviser, shared with the Appeal she was pleased with the teams’ performance at the competition.
“Carson High School has two SkillsUSA Nationals Winners,” Kelley said. “The Promotional Bulletin Board Team got second and the Robotics team got third. Their hard work and putting in many hours after school to compete they projects led to this national recognition. So very happy for them."
More than 1,100 gold, silver and bronze medals were presented to students, and winners also received industry prizes, tools of their trade or scholarships.
"More than 3,700 students from every state in the nation participated in the virtual 2021 SkillsUSA Championships," said SkillsUSA executive director Chelle Travis. "This showcase of career and technical education demonstrates our SkillsUSA partnership at its finest. Our students, instructors and industry partners work together to ensure that every student excels. This program expands learning and career opportunities for our members."
The event is available to middle, high school students or college or postsecondary programs as part of the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference. The national, nonprofit partnership of students, instructors and industry is a verified talent pipeline for America's skilled workforce that is working to help solve the skills gap.
