DOWNEY -- A group of over 300 DUSD students will travel to San Diego over the weekend to compete in the SkillsUSA State Competition.

This competition brings together the top SkillsUSA students from across the state of California to compete in areas of technical and soft skills. Downey Unified will be represented by a group of high school, middle school and adult school students.
 
On April 13, Warren High School (WHS) hosted the first of two SkillsUSA banquets that are held to honor Downey Unified’s SkillsUSA students who are currently competing. Held at the Rio Hondo Event Center, this evening concluded with the 2017 SkillsUSA Student of the Year award being presented to a student for embodying an exemplar competitor within the SkillsUSA realm at WHS.  

Currently a senior and President of the SkillsUSA California Chapter, WHS’ Tori Real was presented with this prestigious award.
 
Downey High School will be hosting their banquet on Thursday, April 27, 2017, succeeding the return of their students from San Diego.
 
Spanning a three-day-period, from April 20-23, Downey Unified students will be competing in various technical and soft skill competitions such as: Crime Scene Investigation, Quiz Bowl, Carpentry, Engineering Technology/Design, Broadcast News Production, Information and Technology, Plumbing, Mobile Robotics, Career Pathway Showcase: Health Science, Electrical Construction Wiring, Masonry, Esthetics, Principles of Engineering Technology, Community Service, Health Knowledge Bowl, Opening and Closing Ceremonies, Architectural Drafting and Robotics: Urban Search and Rescue.
 
Currently with over 15,000 school chapters, Downey Unified is one of the largest chapter involved in SkillsUSA, with one or more students qualifying for Nationals every year since 2009. Last year, resulted in 500 students competing in the Regional Championships, 225 qualifying for the State Championships, 26 making it to Nationals and ultimately culminating with four finishing as National Champions.
 
SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. Launched in 1967, this National Championship has grown from 54 competitors in three contests to more than 6,000 competitors in 99 hands-on occupational and leadership skill areas.
 
Adding contests to the championships to meet the demands of new and expanding occupations, their affiliated instructional programs represent 130 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.