DCIT student honored at SkillsUSA event
A career and technical student from Darlington has won one of the nation’s highest awards at the 2019 SkillsUSA Championships, held in Louisville, Ky., June 26-27.
More than 6,500 students competed at the national showcase of career and technical education.
The SkillsUSA Championships is the largest skill competition in the world and covers 1.4 million square feet, equivalent to 20 football fields or 25 acres.
Students were invited to the event to demonstrate their technical skills, workplace skills and personal skills in 103 hands-on competitions including robotics, automotive technology, drafting, criminal justice, aviation maintenance and public speaking.
Industry leaders from 600 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 1,100 industry judges and technical committee members participated this year.
Skill Point Certificates were awarded in 72 occupational and leadership areas to students who met a threshold contest score defined by industry. The Skill Point Certificate is a component of SkillsUSA’s assessment program for career and technical education.
John James of Darlington, a student at Darlington County Institute of Technology, was awarded a Skill Point Certificate in Job Skill Demonstration A.
“More than 6,500 students from every state in the nation participated in the 2019 SkillsUSA Championships,” said SkillsUSA executive director Tim Lawrence.
The SkillsUSA Championships event is held annually for students in middle school, high school or college/postsecondary programs as part of the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference.