Feb. 2, 2018 - Albany, GA - Students and faculty at Albany Technical College (ATC) will join others across the nation to celebrate SkillsUSA Week, which is Feb. 4-10, 2018. The annual celebration represents over 300,000 SkillsUSA members nationwide and promotes career and technical education. The week highlights the benefits of the SkillsUSA program in developing personal, workplace and technical skills grounded in academics. It also provides schools with an opportunity to demonstrate how career and technical education helps prepare local students for college and high-wage, high-demand career fields. More than 4,000 SkillsUSA schools are expected to participate this year.
“The activities planned over the next month will illustrate the rigor and relevance that career and technical courses offer our students,” said Dr. Mary Richardson, Director of Student Activities for ATC. “By partnering with the business community, these programs are investing in students and providing them with the latest technology and skills that will prepare them to become successful employees and future leaders.”
SkillsUSA Week activities nationwide include presentations to administrators, business leaders and legislators; school tours and open houses; service events that benefit local charities and organizations; interviews with the news media; student-led rallies and campus outreach; and industry partnership development. SkillsUSA Week is held the second full week of February each year in conjunction with Career and Technical Education Month.
“SkillsUSA Week is a time for us to spread the positive message of our organization and bolster support for local programs that define student excellence,” said Timothy Lawrence, Executive Director for SkillsUSA. “The reach of SkillsUSA is of utmost importance as we work toward our goal of graduating 100,000 SkillsUSA students each year who are workforce-ready on Day One of their job. This is one of the most important weeks of the year.”
One of America’s most respected workwear brands, Carhartt Inc., is the official sponsor of SkillsUSA Week and supports these efforts to showcase SkillsUSA and career and technical education.
“SkillsUSA is one the largest career and technical student organizations in the United States and a proven talent pipeline for career-ready employees,” said Tony Ambroza, Chief Brand Officer for Carhartt. “We are proud to sponsor student-driven organizations that promote individual achievement, intentional learning and ongoing community involvement. Those who wear the red SkillsUSA blazer are essential to filling the skills gap with technical talent and equally valuable soft-skill abilities such as communication and leadership.”
For more information on local SkillsUSA Week events, contact Lisa Stephens, at lstephens@albanytech.edu.