Bearcat participation eclipses other regional schools at Feb. 3 competition
Paso Robles greeted more than 1,000 students on Feb. 3, 2018 to compete in the Regional SkillsUSA competition. More than 70 different competitions took place as many career trades judged on the spot by professionals from the community. Competitors came from San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Kern, Kings, Tulare, Fresno, Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz counties in hopes that they had what it takes to bring home the gold in Regionals in order to advance to State competition this April in Ontario.
200 Bearcats competed in live and demonstrative competitions all day and are awaiting results as of press time.
SkillsUSA is a foundation that works with high school and college students to lead them to success as world-class workers. SkillsUSA works in all different fields of the workplace: photography, welding, automotive, wood shop , cabinet making, engineering, robotics, culinary and more.
Senior Roxanne Romero competed in Mobile Electronics installation under auto teacher Greg Boswell. She said that competitions make her “feel super accomplished because you work all year, and these advisers really help you out. They are role models for you.” Romero leads also as the PRHS Skills USA Club President and competed in Skills last year.
Senior Madison Harris competed Saturday in her third SkillsUSA Regional, this time in First Aid CPR and Job Interview under Shelby LaMendola and Brenda Matthysse. “Competition was really amazing. I’ve done it for a couple years now and every year is different. I am so nervous beforehand but once I’m doing it I say ‘OK This is my time and I know my stuff. Let’s go,” Harris said.
Construction teacher and SkillsUSA coordinator Randy Canaday believes that the path of Skills leads to success with more benefits to the modern day world.
“Career technology education is important in the high school and college levels,” Canaday said.
He explained that more and more, people are lacking the knowledge of construction and medical terms. He cited North Carolina’s need for 3,000 jobs in one industry alone.
SkillsUSA competition is encouraged and pursued in PRHS through 15 career technical ed course pathways but is very easy to attain through CTE classes. SkillsUSA will grant job awareness and opportunities for all students.
[envira-gallery id=”29329″]
