Search | Menu Beyond the Medal: SkillsUSA is a Winning Proposition
Earlier this year Madison College students brought home three gold medals from the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference (NLSC) in Atlanta, GA.
Laura Romero Morales (Cosmetology), Armand Carlo Agbulos (Additive Manufacturing), and Cody Buchanan (Additive Manufacturing) each earned gold medals. Jeffery Powell (Collision Repair Technology) and Emma Schwantes (Pin Design) earned 8th place in their respective categories. Kailyn Collins (Job Skill Demonstration) and Lily Hall (Welding Sculpture) secured 6th and 19th place, respectively.
It’s not the first time that WolfPack students have come home from the national competition with some hardware. With a strong SkillsUSA program at Madison College, sending students to compete at nationals isn’t unusual.
Additionally, at the 51st Annual SkillsUSA State Leadership and Skills Conference earlier this year, 49 Madison College students competed in 13 contests with 20 students earning medals.
SkillsUSA is a career and technical student organization that serves over 395,000 high school, college, and middle school students and professional members, showcasing and supporting training programs in professional, occupational and skilled service occupations. And SkillsUSA NLSC is a highly competitive event featuring over 6,000 state champions from across the United States competing in 115 skilled and leadership competitions.
A Breadth of Offerings
Madison College has 15 different SkillsUSA programs ranging from Metal Fabrication and Cosmetology to Welding and Culinary Arts. Each program has a dedicated volunteer faculty advisor (or advisors) who works with the students to hone their craft and prepare for competition.
Madison College SkillsUSA Wisconsin Associate Director and Diesel Technology Instructor Tom Wozniak says the value of the SkillsUSA program extends beyond the state, national and international competitions. It significantly benefits students by showcasing their talents to major employers in their field and within the community. Additionally, it is advantageous for the school. When recruiting, Wozniak asks students interested in the diesel program, “Why wouldn’t you want to join a program that consistently ranks in the top ten, if not the top five, colleges in the country for head-to-head competition?”
Wozniak, a WorldSkills expert with Skills USA’s international equivalent, noted the benefits that SkillsUSA brings to the region. Most of the highly trained students participating and competing in the elite levels of SkillsUSA keep their talents in their home district working for local employers. Then, they often become advocates, sponsors and supporters of the college’s SkillsUSA program creating a positive cycle that benefits students, alumni and employers. Some former Madison College students and SkillsUSA competitors have returned to the college as instructors.
Employer Engagement is Key
Engaging employers is a crucial aspect of Madison College’s SkillsUSA program. Advisory boards, with representatives from local companies, provide support through leadership, volunteerism, and funding. In the diesel category for instance, of the 30 companies, several original equipment manufacturers (OEM) like John Deere and Caterpillar support the program, as well as a majority of the state’s largest dealerships of on-highway trucks and off-road equipment.
As Wozniak looks to the future of Madison College’s SkillsUSA program, he sees opportunity for growth. While many eligible programs at Madison College have a SkillsUSA advisor and members, there are several other programs that could. Culinary and health services are two areas he hopes to see developing a SkillsUSA program.
He envisions a future where those excelling in their trade are celebrated like athletes and performers, and SkillsUSA is the pathway to that goal.
