In line with its mission to encourage students to become leaders and self-sufficient citizens, SkillsUSA recently welcomed students from all three Chester County Technical College High School campuses when they participated in the regional SkillsUSA competition.

The SkillsUSA competition aims to increase the quality of the workforce and includes technical and professional skills training, as well as programs that enhance leadership, citizenship and employability. The students from all three TCHS campuses who already placed in the regional SkillsUSA competition are busy preparing for the statewide competition at the Lebanon County Exposition Center on April 13 and 14.

Despite not placing at the regional competition, a team of three students from TCHS’s Brandywine Campus, are also gearing up for a statewide competition in April. To achieve this, Kaylee Tada along with her partners Sabrina Paulino and Olivia Barrone have signed up to compete in the separate SkillsUSA statewide competition that requires them to complete three professional leadership projects involving patriotism, community service and promotion.

By serving a meal at Ronald McDonald House and donating hairstyling and nail services to Coatesville’s veterans, Tada and her team have already completed the first two tasks. For the third, they are creating a school wide Pennsylvania-shaped mural, which represents their connection to the community and will be displayed inside the school.

“It forces our school to work together. It definitely promotes school spirit and school atmosphere. No matter if we place or not in this competition, we did something for our school and our community that was super impactful and meaningful and that’s what is the most important,” Said Tada.

Sophomore Juan Hernandez from TCHS’s Pennock’s Bridge Campus was also recently elected Vice President of the State Student Executive Board of SkillsUSA where he hopes to make a difference in his school and community in the new position.

Faculty advisor Bart Heagy is excited for his students’ success. “We have seen them grow professionally as well as in their confidence and maturity levels,” Heagy said. “We can definitely see them advancing from where they were in September to what they are accomplishing now in March.”

Read previous Vista Today coverage of SkillsUSA here.