29 Downey students qualify for SkillsUSA national competition

DOWNEY — Twenty-nine Downey Unified students have advanced to the SkillsUSA national championships where they will compete against the nation’s top students in robotics, engineering, and other categories.

Nearly 200 Downey students participated in the SkillsUSA state competition held in Ontario over spring break to compete in areas of technical and soft skills.

“We are proud to announce that 29 of our students will be moving on to the national championship competition that will be occurring this summer in Louisville,” announced school board President Nancy Swenson. “This final outcome is a true testament to the hard work and focus that our teachers and students put in throughout the entire year.”

On top of the 29 Downey, Warren and Downey Adult School students who received gold medals in the state competition, 15 earned silver and eight received bronze medals in a variety of hands-on and job-related competitions, making a grand total of 52 medal recipients from Downey Unified.

Gold medalists will compete in the national competition in the following categories: mobile robotics technology, Quiz Bowl, esthetics, information technology, career pathway showcase - industrial and engineering technology, masonry, opening and closing ceremonies, CNC technician, criminal justice, related technical math, practical nursing, and employment application process.

With currently more than 15,000 school chapters, Downey Unified is one of the largest chapters involved in SkillsUSA, with one or more students qualifying for Nationals every year since 2009.