Burleson High School SkillsUSA
Many people consider the SkillsUSA Championships to be the
preeminent showcase of public technical education in the United States. The
championships recognize career and technical students who excel in their
occupational and occupationally related areas, as well as in the leadership
development activities that are such an integral part of the SkillsUSA
program in the classroom.
The involvement of industry in the SkillsUSA
Championships program is essential. Experts in leadership, health
occupations, and skilled and technical sciences donate their time to serve
as contest judges and as technical committee members. They assume
responsibility for selecting the skills that are to be judged, determining
the format of the contests and establishing the standards by which
contestants will be judged.
Besides showcasing students’ skills, the
SkillsUSA Championships, by the very nature of competition, urges students
to take pride in their work. It also provides prospective employers with an
opportunity to see dedicated, motivated potential employees at work.
To continue to meet the needs of both these potential employees and prospective
employers, the lines of communication between technical education schools
and industry must be kept open. Educators need to be able to identify
industry’s needs and, in turn, develop appropriate curricula.