Skills USA members to represent state in national competition
Twenty-three CNM students will be representing the state of New Mexico in the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference this summer, said SkillsUSA Director Sharon Gordon-Moffett.
The 23 students brought home a total of 24 gold medals in various trades and leadership competitions.
“I’m so happy that so many of our students stepped up. They did great,” said Gordon-Moffett.
A total of 67 CNM students competed in the three-day event, and 52 of those students brought home a total of 56 gold, silver and bronze medals, said Gordon-Moffett. A total of 640 secondary and post-secondary students from throughout the state competed for the right to go to the national event, said Gordon-Moffett.
The 23 gold-medalists and an additional four student delegates will attend the 2012 national competition on June 23-27 in Kansas City, Mo., said Gordon-Moffett.
“All my officers medaled in this year’s competition – it was so nice to see them all on the podium,” said Chapter President John Abeyta, who was awarded the gold medal in job interview skills.
Abeyta said he encourages students at the secondary and post-secondary level to get involved in SkillsUSA because he felt it really helps to enrich lives.
“It teaches students to be positive and productive and to make difference in their community,” said Abeyta.
As the biggest institution in the state, CNM also hosted the competition, said Gordon-Moffett. Thirty-three of the events took place in classrooms on Main campus and the Advanced Technology Center. Two others were hosted by Car Crafters on Montano and Lowe’s Home Improvement on Paseo Del Norte. Both companies had partnered with SkillsUSA for this event, said Gordon-Moffett.
“All of these skills are part of the curriculum, so this is a real educational, experiential learning opportunity,” said Godron-Moffett.
President Kathie Winograd, who attended this year’s state competition, said it is one of her favorite events to attend each year and she finds it rewarding to watch students apply what they have learned in the classroom.
“Our students excel every year at SkillsUSA events, which is a testament to our students’ commitment to their education and the outstanding quality of instruction they receive from our faculty members,” said Winograd.
SkillsUSA is a national organization that promotes excellence in fields and gives students networking and scholarship opportunities through various competitions, said Jane DeShong Short, director of media and government relations for SkillsUSA.
For more information on the the CNM chapter of SkillsUSA email Sharon Gordon-Moffett at sgordon@ cnm.edu or Tomomi Miller at tmiller31@cnm.edu.
“Congratulations to all of the students who participated in the state SkillsUSA event this year. They make all of us at CNM very proud,” said Winograd.
