Downey students bring home SkillsUSA gold medals

DOWNEY - At the end of April, Downey Unified’s SkillsUSA students competed in the State Competition held in Ontario. Bringing together the top SkillsUSA students from across California to compete in areas of technical and soft skills, Downey Unified was represented by a group of over 100 high school students.

With the motto, “Preparing for leadership in the world of work”, SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce.

Launched in 1967, this national competition has grown from 54 competitors in three contests to now more than 6,000 competitors in 108 hands-on occupational and leadership skill area contests.

“CTE [Career Technical Education] and SkillsUSA are such big parts of our culture here in Downey Unified because our main goal is to have our students graduate both college and career ready,” shared Downey Unified’s Superintendent, Dr. Garcia. “Regardless of whether our students are headed for college or into the workforce, CTE and SkillsUSA provides students with a strong foundation of technical knowledge and employability skills to complement their academic studies and prepare them for their respective futures. In fact, college-bound students can get job experiences to help them define their career plans, identify an appropriate course of study and even help pay for tuition. So it’s a win-win, however you view it.”

Eighteen Downey and Warren high school students proudly brought home gold medals, nine received silver and 11 received bronze medals in a variety of hands-on and job-related competitions; making a grand total of 35 medal recipients in 17 different contests.

Downey Unified’s 35 medal recipients will be traveling in June to Atlanta, Ga., to represent the state of California in the following areas of competition: Mobile Robotics Technology, Aviation Maintenance Technology, Interactive Video Game App, Masonry, CNC Turning Specialist, Addictive Manufacturing, Advertising Design, Graphic Imaging – Sublimation, Introductory Drafting, Plumbing, First Aid/CPR, Esthetics, Quiz Bowl, Action Skills, Job Skill Demonstration, Opening and Closing Ceremonies and Employment Application Process.

Adding contests to the championships to meet the demands of new and expanding occupations, their affiliated instructional programs represent over 100 different occupational areas.

Downey Unified has grown exponentially within SkillsUSA and is dedicated to do whatever it takes to provide hands-on, job-related experience to students, providing them with the tools to be both globally competitive, and college and career ready.

With currently over 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.

The SkillsUSA National Championships will be held June 20-24, 2022. More than 6,500 outstanding career and technical education students –– all state contest winners –– will compete hands-on in 108 different trade, technical and leadership fields. Students work against the clock and each other, proving their expertise in occupations such as electronics, computer-aided drafting, precision machining, medical assisting and culinary arts.

Contests are run with the help of industry, trade associations and labor organizations, and test competencies are set by industry.

Leadership contestants will demonstrate skills including extemporaneous speaking and conducting meetings by parliamentary procedure.