Run by Erika Bailey, a Law Enforcement and Criminal Investigations teacher, and Dr. Connie Highnote, an Architectural Drawing and Design teacher, SkillsUSA, a student-led organization, welcomes every student at NC. By introducing different Career Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE) jobs, the club closes a skills gap that companies see in younger generations.
Even before SkillsUSA existed, professionals passed down personal experiences in their corresponding workforce to apprentices. Once the Vocational Act of 1963 became law, SkillsUSA existed as one of the various programs created. Due to the act’s passing, Senator Hoke Smith and Representative Dudley Hughes began to fund homemaking, trade and industrial educational courses. Out of the several programs, SkillsUSA focused on the ability to teach students the skills to articulate what they gained to a future employer. Highnote fell in love with SkillsUSA because of how the program pushes students out of their comfort zones, helping them prepare for their future careers in the years to come.
“SkillsUSA is for students who are interested in CTAE classes. Being in SkillsUSA helps students grow in leadership, the skills they learn, helps them build their confidence, builds teamwork, and prepares them for the workforce closing the skills gap from school straight to work. SkillsUSA is what you make of it. It’s not a sit-and-get kind of organization, you have to get in there and get your hands dirty and participate. The program is personal, you come and you make it what you want it to be,” Highnote said.
As a leader, Highnote continues to work with SkillsUSA to grant students a place to feel like themselves doing what they love. Highnote strives to convey the same exposure to the job world, similar to what she received when she took part in the program. SkillsUSA, known for its competitions, allows students to show what they learned in the CTAE class prior. Before a student competes, they choose what skill they will perform such as sports medicine, culinary or other career tech jobs. Once the competition comes, the SkillsUSA members will take five to seven minutes to showcase their careers to judges. Members can progress through three levels of competitions, including local, state and nationwide.
“SkillsUSA got me out of the shell I was in during high school, for example, it got me to speak in front of people more, being able to practice my public speaking skills as well as demonstrate my ability to retain information. I was also able to educate people on the specific topic I had. For instance, I went to the state competition and ended up getting third place for my demonstration on sports medicine, range of motion,” former SkillsUSA member Sainabou Sheffield said.
SkillsUSA provides opportunities for students to learn both technical and leadership skills, setting them up for career success. The organization focuses on modern industry standards, ensuring that members become well-prepared to meet the requirements employers look for. As SkillsUSA continues to encourage excellence, it remains a valuable program for professional growth.
