Two career and technical students, one from Sugar Grove, and one from Elburn, each won one of the Nation’s highest awards at the 2022 SkillsUSA Championships, in Atlanta, June 22-23. More than 5,200 students competed at the national showcase of career and technical education. The SkillsUSA Championships is the largest skill competition in the world and covers 1.79 million square feet, equivalent to 31 football fields, or 41 acres.
Liam Richardson, from Sugar Grove and a student at Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove. and Noah Vandervoorn, from Elburn and a student at Fox Valley Career Center in Maple Park, each won an award.
Richardson was awarded the college gold medal n Automotive Service Technology.
Vandervoor was awarded a Skill point Certificate in electrical construction wiring.
Students were invited to the event to demonstrate their technical skills, workplace skills, and personal skills in 108 hands-on competitions, including robotics, automotive technology, drafting, criminal justice, aviation maintenance, and public speaking.
Industry leaders from 650 businesses, corporations, trade associations and unions planned and evaluated the contestants against their standards for entry-level workers. Industry support of the SkillsUSA Championships is valued at more than $36 million in donated time, equipment, cash, and material. More than 1,100 industry judges and technical committee members participated this year.
A total of 1,150 gold, silver and bronze medals were presented to students Friday, June 24 at the SkillsUSA Awards Ceremony at State Farm Arena, which was sponsored by partner Frontdoor Inc.. Many winners received industry prizes, tools of their trade or scholarships. The medalists received a Skill Point Certificate representing workplace readiness in the student’s occupational specialty. Students can add the certificate to an employment portfolio. Skill Point Certificates were awarded to all national contestants who received medals, or who met a threshold contest score for their event as an indicator of proficiency.
“More than 5,200 students from every state in the Nation participated in the 2022 SkillsUSA Championships,” said SkillsUSA executive director Chelle Travis.
— SkillsUSA