SkillsUSA
What Is SkillsUSA?
SkillsUSA is a national partnership of students, teachers and industry representatives working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA is a national membership organization serving middle-school, high-school and college/postsecondary students who are preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations, including health occupations. SkillsUSA improves the quality of America’s skilled workforce through a structured program of citizenship, leadership, employability, technical and professional skills training. SkillsUSA enhances the lives and careers of students, instructors and industry representatives as they strive to be champions at work.
SkillsUSA Framework
The SkillsUSA Framework illustrates how students fulfill the mission of the organization “to empower members to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens.”
How it Works
Participation in SkillsUSA provides a common language for students to articulate what they gain from participating in conferences and competitions to employers, school administrators, parents and other students.
The program assesses student skill development along a learning continuum of awareness, demonstration and mastery.
Gives participants the leadership, communication and community engagement tools to build SkillsUSA programs at the local, state and national levels to ensure quality student-led experiences that build skills in all members.
Fall State Leadership Conference - November 2021
With renewed energy and enthusiasm after a lapse in many extracurricular activities due to the Covid-19 pandemic, 12 students traveled to Marlborough, MA on Monday, November, 22, 2021 to represent the Franklin County Technical School at the SkillsUSA Massachusetts Fall State Leadership Conference.
New SkillsUSA coordinators, John Passiglia (Welding) and Lynn Wiles (Cosmetology), were thrilled with the results. The students represented 10 of Tech’s 13 shops at the full-day event.
Kevin Howe, a sophomore in the Electrical Program, took first place in his group in the Personal Skills and Content categories. Annette Emond-Wanner, a sophomore in Programming and Web Design, earned 2nd place in the Poster and Content categories. And Zak Serrell, a senior in the Carpentry shop, was awarded a medal for his demonstration of skills in the Community Engagement category.
Four students earned Leader Award Credentials: Kiera Baleno (sophomore in Welding and Metal Fabrication), Lorenzo Buccaroni (sophomore in Cosmetology), Annette Emond-Wanner and Zak Serrell.
Congratulations to the award winners, and to the entire group for being willing to dive in to the SkillsUSA framework skills together with students from across the state.
Other participants from the Tech School included the following, who are all sophomores: Lea Chapman (Plumbing), Rachel Hayes (Programming and Web Design), Jillian Houle (Advanced Manufacturing), Shaley Murray (Health Technology and Medical Assisting), Emma Ray (Culinary Arts), Lilly Ross (Veterinary and Animal Science) and Charlotte Valle (Welding and Metal Fabrication).
The 2021 Fall State Leadership Conference was focused on the themes of “positivity, advocacy and unity,” and allowed students the chance to develop communication and leadership skills, and to learn some basics about developing their school chapter.
Skills USA 3rd Annual Local Awards
Thank you to everyone that helped make our 3rd annual local awards a success. We appreciate the help from all the shops and hope this event will spark a desire to compete at the district level March 10th.
Thank you especially to Mike Nobrega for going all out with a total shop test and project, and helping with the set up for the awards ceremony! He also had a student document the event live and conduct interviews afterward! That would be great to continue in future years.
Also we would like to thank Matt West, Brian Spadifino, Mark, Jamie, Joe Maz, and Administration for arranging the go-ahead to have the whole school involved at the same time on a Friday afternoon. Also thank you to John Cary for MC-ing, he should get a gold for best extemporaneous speech.
We feel the addition of two state officers, having the school together, video and the podium brought a sense of excitement and pride.
Thank you again from Skills USA
Lorin Burrows, former Skills USA Coordinator
Electra Manley, former Skills USA Coordinator