By Gustavo Jasso and Deb Kohn

Champions at Work was the theme for the SkillsUSA North Central Kansas District Meeting for secondary and post-secondary chapters hosted September 14th by the Salina South High School SkillsUSA chapter. Students from Ellinwood, Junction City, Manhattan, McPherson, and Victoria high schools as well as SkillsUSA members from KSU Polytechnic, Manhattan Area Technical, NC KS Tech College, and Salina Area Technical College were invited to attend.

Mrs. Becky Warren, Kansas SkillsUSA Advisor led the meeting activities with Mr. Steve Reed, Director of Engineering at KASA Industrial Controls as guest speaker. Mr. Reed emphasized that employers not only look for employees with the needed technical skills and knowledge in their chosen career field, but also for employees with desire, drive and determination. Combining these qualities in a chosen career field will lead to success. Mr. Reed has been involved in the USD 305 Career and Technical Education Task Force.

Main business of the district meeting consisted of elections for district officers. Following one minute speeches and answering a series of questions presented by Mrs. Warren, three SSHS students elected to serve on the district officer team are: Alvaro Escobedo, Ulises Salas and Gustavo Jasso.

SkillsUSA, is a Career and Technical Education Student organization that partners students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA helps each student excel by providing educational programs, events and competitions that supports career and technical education (CTE) in the nation’s classrooms.