DUSD earns 69 medals at SkillsUSA

DOWNEY – A record 26 DUSD students brought home gold medals at the SkillsUSA state competition this past weekend in San Diego. The gold medal winners advanced to the national championship competition in June in Louisville, Ky.

Last year, seven DUSD students earned gold at the same competition.

The competition tested students in a variety of occupational and leadership skills, designed to meet the demands of new and expanding occupations.

“This final outcome is a true testament to the hard work and focus that our teachers and students put in throughout the entire year,” said Phil Davis, Downey Unified’s CTE and STEM director. “This year’s medal count far exceeded any other year.”

In addition to the 26 gold medalists, 16 received silver and 27 earned bronze in a variety of hands-on and job-related competitions, making it a grand total of 69 medal recipients combined from both Downey and Warren high schools.

Downey Unified’s gold medal recipients will travel to Louisville on June 22 to represent California in the following areas of competition: Quiz Bowl, Photography, Related Technical Math, Esthetics, Principles of Engineering Technology, Career Pathway Showcase-Health Science, Mobile Robotics Technology, Extemporaneous Speaking, Team Works, Health Knowledge Bowl and Masonry.

DUSD students swept a number of events in the state competition, including Mobile Robotics, Principles of Engineering Technology, Esthetics, Quiz Bowl and Extemporaneous Speaking.

Two Warren High students, Gregory Garcia and Avayansi Rodriguez, were elected by their peers to serve as SkillsUSA state officers for the coming year. They are the first Downey Unified students to be elected as SkillsUSA student delegates representing California.

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Published: April 16, 2015 - Volume 14 - Issue 01