Three Gilbert students earn national recognition in career and technical education

Three career and technical education students from Gilbert were recognized at the 2024 SkillsUSA Championships in Atlanta last month.

They were among more than 6,000 students who competed at the national showcase of career and technical education.

As an indicator of proficiency, Skill Point Certificates were awarded to all national contestants who met a predetermined threshold contest score for their SkillsUSA event, demonstrating workplace readiness. Students can add this certificate to an employment portfolio.

The students from Gilbert who received a Skill Point Certificate were:

• Braxton Worsley, a student at Chandler Gilbert Community College, in Prepared Speech;
• Sienna Chiquete, a student at Chandler Gilbert Community College, in Job Skill Demonstration A;
• Lucas Mastin, a student at Cooley Middle School, in T-Shirt Design.

The SkillsUSA Championships is the largest skill competition in the world and covers 1.79 million square feet, equivalent to 31 football fields or 41 acres.

Students were invited to the event to demonstrate their technical skills, workplace skills and personal skills in 115 hands-on occupational and leadership competitions, including robotics, automotive technology, drafting, criminal justice, aviation maintenance and public speaking.

Industry leaders from 850 businesses, corporations, trade associations and unions planned and evaluated the contestants against their standards for entry-level workers. More than 1,200 industry judges and technical committee members participated this year.

The SkillsUSA Championships event is held annually for students in middle school, high school or college/postsecondary programs as part of the SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference.