It’s all a matter of skills and representation when it comes to getting a job, especially in today’s day in age where 2025 finished with the worst hiring percentages since 2020, according to NBC News. But what does it take to develop those skills and capture enough of an employer’s attention for them to say, “You’re hired!” after an interview?
SkillsUSA is a competitive organization that was founded in 1965 and brought to the Paso Robles School District around 2003. This educational experience has given over 438,000 students across the country the opportunity to build foundational skills for their desired careers and obtain job opportunities that the average student wouldn’t get without multiple years of field experience.
Paso Robles High School (PRHS) students have participated in a wide variety of competitions ranging from job interviewing, plumbing, web designing, practical nursing, aviation maintenance, and woodworking for the past 23 years. CTE pathways such as Healthcare, Computer Tech, Culinary, Automotive, Construction, and Child Development make these competitions possible through the curriculum taught within the program. Unfortunately, there are still many students who are unaware of this career developing association and are missing out on the opportunity to add to the still growing list of more than 100 state and national medalists at PRHS alone.
Frey has been advising SkillsUSA for students since 2004 through his four-year Computer Tech program where students learn topics of computer application, coding/cyber operations, cyber security, and obtaining certifications. His program has won multiple state medals with one gold medal won at the national level that Frey chooses to display in his room — alongside many other banners as a reminder to students about what is possible through his program.
“They can see that there’s history, that’s why I put all that up. Even if their names are not up there it gives them an idea. It gives them a constant direction to look forward to. If we didn’t have that, that’s one less thing they can visualize,” Frey said.
This year he will be sending 21 students to the state level after 31 different categorical regional competitions have been completed. This year he is looking forward to seeing students be successful, because watching them rise to the occasion and get better is the best part of the SkillsUSA experience for him as an advisor.
Senior, Natalia Anguiano, has been an active competitor in SkillsUSA for three years now, having participated in Telecom Cabling for two years and now Customer Service. She is excited about the opportunity to move onto the state level after placing gold in the first round of regionals with BreAnne Overton’s Business pathway.
As the only regional medalist in her class, Anguiano has expressed being anxious about the experience, but knows that the competition itself is relatively easy and with the amount of studying she has put in, she’s hopeful about making it to the next level and be the second national medalist for Business Practicum.
“I really enjoyed the whole experience of going to state in the past. I made a whole bunch of friends last year, and I still keep in touch with them. And I loved having those four days to go explore the city,” Anguiano said.
After graduating, Anguiano plans to study Business Administration or finance, and is grateful to have participated in a program that provides students with skills she will need in her future career.
The first round of regional competitions wrapped up during the week of Feb. 7 through 14 with the winners preparing to be sent to the state level. There, they will attend conferences and compete in front of two judges within their selected competition. As it stands right now, 71 Bearcats have made it to the state level total and will be heading toward Ontario, California on Thursday, April 9th for their competitions. Gold medalists at state will then proceed to the national level in June, competing against schools all across the country and representing our school on the highest level.
