Officers of
the SkillsUSA chapter at Mansfield Senior High School are, back row from left,
Quaniejk Norris, president; Nayasha Franklin, treasurer, and Nkosi Bradley,
vice president. In front are Savanna Yeater, secretary/reporter and Damoni
Williams, parliamentarian. The new
SkillsUSA chapter at Mansfield Senior High School is expected to advance the
Career Technical Education program and expand its ties to local business and
industry.
All 241
juniors and seniors in the Career Tech program automatically are chapter
members. The purpose and benefits of SkillsUSA membership will be outlined to
juniors and seniors in two assemblies scheduled for Friday.
Kevin
Williams, SkillsUSA Ohio director, has described the organization as “a
partnership of students, teachers and business and industry working together to
ensure Ohio has a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA also provides its members with
the opportunity to display their technical and leadership skills through the
SkillsUSA Championships Program.”
Senior
High’s Career Tech program includes auto tech, construction tech, health tech,
performing arts, networking/gaming design, culinary arts, cosmetology,
interactive/digital media, machine tech and computer-aided drafting and design.
Dirk Eachus,
director of the performing arts program, is the SkillsUSA chapter adviser.
“We will
create our own service projects and develop more connections with our community
partners within business and industry,” he said. “Our overall goal is to build
professionalism.”
Quaniejk
Norris, a computer-aided drafting and design student, is the chapter president.
“I take my
role as president very seriously,” he said. “I think a lot of people will take
notice of what we are doing. I think most will participate and help make the
chapter successful.”
Eachus,
Norris and the other chapter officers participated in the SkillsUSA Ohio Fall
Leadership Conference Oct. 30-31 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.
SkillsUSA
membership was a priority of Senior High Assistant Principal Scott Musser, who
directs the Career Tech program.
“Our
officers have learned how to run an effective club. They will now be
responsible for moving us forward,” Musser said.
“One of my
goals is that we will have students in each Career Tech study area competing
one-on-one against students from other districts through SkillsUSA.”