Local career and technical students were recognized for excellence at the 2023 SkillsUSA Championships, held in Atlanta on June 21 and 22. Pennsylvania honorees were Kinsey Rhoads from Christiana, a student at Lancaster County Career & Technology Center in Willow Street, who was awarded a Skill Point Certificate in dental assisting, and Thomas Alexander from Pequea, a student at Lancaster County Career & Technical Center - Brownstown Campus, Ephrata, who was awarded a Skill Point Certificate in architectural drafting.

More than 6,000 students competed at the national showcase of career and technical education. Skill Point Certificates were awarded to all national contestants who met a threshold contest score. The Skill Point Certificate represents workplace readiness in the occupational specialty, and students can add the certificate to their employment portfolio as an indicator of proficiency.

Students were invited to the event to demonstrate their technical skills, workplace skills and personal skills in 110 hands-on competitions, including robotics, automotive technology, drafting, criminal justice, aviation maintenance and public speaking. Industry leaders from 650 businesses, corporations, trade associations and unions planned and evaluated the contestants against their standards for entry-level workers.

Industry support of the SkillsUSA Championships is valued at over $36 million in donated time, equipment, cash and material. More than 1,200 industry judges and technical committee members participated this year. All SkillsUSA Championships competitors were honored on June 23 at the SkillsUSA Awards Session at State Farm Arena.

To learn more, visit http://www.skillsusa.org.