By: Steven Dickens
Published: January 8, 2009
A new campus organization has formed to encourage Pensacola Junior College students to consider vocational-technical careers.
SkillsUSA recently held its first regional meeting of the year at PJC’s Hagler Auditorium. It was the first time PJC participated in such a meeting, held to help students and teachers learn about the organization and invite those interested to join.
PJC President Dr. Charles Meadows really pushed to start a SkillsUSA chapter at PJC, said faculty member Jennifer Ponson, who has helped organize the new group.
The program offers something for everyone in every vocational-technical field, said Barbie Nall, Region 1 coordinator.
SkillsUSA’s membership includes students studying computer technology, welding, cosmetology, dental and medical assisting, and carpentry. The program also promotes leadership careers.
SkillsUSA gives students an opportunity to build skills in the field of work they are interested in. Students get hands-on experiences in their chosen career, helping them gain a competitive edge. For students who aren’t sure what vo-tech field they want to pursue, SkillsUSA helps them decide by giving them many opportunities to get experience.
Ross Shirer, a West Florida Tech student, attended the recent SkillsUSA meeting at PJC and was excited about the program.
“I heard about the competitions and I wanted to join,” he said.
Once a year, SkillsUSA holds a weeklong national competition in Kansas City in which students compete in their own vo-tech field. The competition, overseen by nearly 1,500 judges and contest organizers from labor and management, is a multimillion-dollar event that occupies space equivalent in size to 16 football fields, according to the SkillsUSA Web site.
This year, more than 5,200 contestants competed in 91 separate events. Last year, 400 students from Florida went to the competition and brought home more than 100 awards.
PJC will host a regional competition in February in which students from Tallahassee to Pensacola will participate. Regional winners go on to compete on the state level, and state winners go to national competition in Kansas City.