Georgia – Students from West Georgia Technical College (WGTC), along with their peers from various technical institutions across Georgia, participated in the SkillsUSA Georgia State Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta from February 22 to 24. WGTC was honored with the Quality Chapter of Excellence Award, and their Health Knowledge Bowl team secured second place, receiving a silver medal for their efforts.
This annual event offers students statewide a platform to demonstrate their technical abilities in more than 150 occupational contests. Additionally, it provides an environment for enhancing leadership capabilities, participating in state officer elections, and engaging in leadership training, among other activities.
WGTC had eleven students compete in five categories at this year’s conference:
- Computer Programming – Glenn Freeman, Douglas County
- Culinary Art – Margaret Dollar, Troup County
- Health Knowledge Bowl – Jennifer Littell-Allen, Coweta County; Shadariah Mason, Harris County; Kayla Zachery, Floyd County; Abby Hembree, Muscogee County
- Medical Terminology – Kaitlynn McGouirk, Carroll County; Jacklyn Sandin, Carroll County
- Welding Fabrication – Ray Morehead, Carroll County; Seth Hill, Roanoke, AL; and Hannah Hill, Roanoke, AL
“Each year interest in the WGTC SkillsUSA program continues to grow,” Beverly Kirk, WGTC SkillsUSA Advisor and Dean of Arts and Sciences said. “This year WGTC students competed in various categories ranging from welding fabrication to computer programming. Our students exemplified the statement ‘SkillsUSA: Where students turn ambition into achievement and passion into proficiency.’”
SkillsUSA is a nationwide association supporting over 400,000 students and educators each year. It garners substantial support from over 1,000 sponsors across various sectors, including businesses, industries, and labor organizations, through monetary donations, contributions in kind, and direct participation in its initiatives. Recognized by both the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Labor, SkillsUSA stands out as an exemplary framework for workforce development driven by employer needs.
For more information about WGTC’s SkillsUSA chapter, visit www.westgatech.edu/skills-usa/.