SkillsUSA moves on to state
Photo by STEPHANIE TANG
by DOMINIQUE LIE
Members of SkillsUSA will participate in the 49th annual competition March 31 at the Town and Country Resort and Convention Center in San Diego.
SkillsUSA competed in the 2016 Region 3 Skill Conference at the Los Angeles Trade Technical College Jan. 23. Ryan Tienda and Jesus Gallegos placed gold and silver in Mobile Electronics, respectively. Kristian Ibarra, Jason Ho and Stephanie Tang placed first, second and third in Electronic Technology.
Senior Alexis Macias and juniors Gallegos, J. Ho, Kenny Ho, Ibarra, Alondra Reyes, Tang, Tienda and Jasmine Valencia will compete in the Mobile Electronics category. Senior Alejandro Lozano will compete in House Wiring.
“It feels really good comepeting again because I am actually going to state this time. Last year, I didn’t. I think that the competition is really fun, and they let me now what kind of skill level I’m at,” said Macias.
The club was originally started as VICA (Vocational Industrial Clubs of America) and became SkillsUSA, a partnership between teachers and industry that gives students a way to learn job skills.
“Initially, I felt a bit nervous and I thought I wouldn’t win, but I did everything I could and I got gold,” said Tienda, a junior. “I joined because I thought it would be fun, and it has been a lot of work, but really fun. Like on certain days I have to go to another school, so that we can learn more and use that for the competition.”
Students are judged based on results of a written test and a lab test. They are also judged on their attire, whether they follow SkillsUSA regulations, and verbal commands that would be needed for the job skill in which they are competing. Students are expected to look as professional as possible, according to Garth Kline, SkillsUSA adviser and electronics technology teacher.
“I hope that they do the best that they can, learn how to be professional, apply their skill, have fun, and learn from their mistakes. I hope that from this, they learn that they can be successful in whatever field they choose,” said Kline.
Students who place in the state competition will move on to the national competition held June 20-24 in Louisville, KY.
