For the first time, every Career & Technical School student will have access to SkillsUSA training materials, competitions, professional resources and more throughout the 2022-23 school year, without the barrier of paying dues. All 1,300 students from our component districts have access to this membership through an initiative by senior leadership.
SkillsUSA is a career and technical student organization serving more than 395,000 high school students. The organization promotes personal and professional growth and offers students the opportunity to network with industry executives and professionals at the local, regional, state and national levels. Student members have the opportunity to participate in competitions in categories including cosmetology, electrical construction wiring, welding fabrication and more. The organization also promotes giving back to the community, which locally results in collections each year for food pantries and city missions.
The expanded access aims to increase participation and provide students access to all SkillsUSA has to offer – from in-person training and employability training skills materials to scholarships, mentions Deb Toy, SkillsUSA campus advisor.
“It will help us have greater student involvement. Membership dues will no longer preclude some people from participating or taking part,” said Jocelyn Howe, a senior in the Global Fashion Program from Mohonasen. Howe won the New York State SkillsUSA Championship in the Job Interview contest and served as vice president of the organization’s Career & Technical Education – Albany Campus organization.
Albany CTE Campus Assistant Principal Kate Nickerson said the move benefits students and instructors.
“Becoming a total participation SkillsUSA program provides our instructors with access to high-quality curriculum, teaching aids and assessments that are based on the skills deemed essential by business and industry world-wide,” she said. “This is a win-win for our students, their instructors and students’ future employers.”