PIQUA – SkillsUSA recently named 24 SkillsUSA chapters as Models of Excellence for 2019, and the Upper Valley Career Center is among those chapters.
At the top level of SkillsUSA’s Chapter Excellence Program, these schools are recognized for the exceptional integration and application of personal, workplace and technical skills in their SkillsUSA chapter activities. This is the highest award bestowed on chapters by SkillsUSA, which is one of the largest student organizations for career and technical education.
“The Models of Excellence program represents the very best in chapter achievement and community involvement,” Timothy W. Lawrence, executive director of SkillsUSA, said. “These students represent our future workforce and reflect the future of their communities. This is a tremendous honor for each school and validates these outstanding SkillsUSA programs as some of the best in the nation.”
The 24 Models of Excellence chapters will participate in the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference June 24-28 in Louisville, Kentucky. Activities include finalist interviews, an awards dinner at the Kentucky Derby Museum and recognition at the SkillsUSA awards ceremony in front of more than 12,000 students, instructors and business leaders. The Chapter Excellence Program is provided in partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor and Crescent Tools, a premier hand-tool brand from Apex Tool Group.
“We are honored to be part of this program,” said Curt Weber, senior director of brand management for Apex Tool Group. “These students possess the skills that every employer seeks, including leadership, initiative, communication, teamwork and problem solving. Their SkillsUSA instructors take the education of these students to the next level by elevating it from classroom instruction to successful application.”
Upper Valley Career Center commended advisers Jeffrey Bertke, Sara Plozy and Dave Collins for their hard work, dedication and leadership that has propelled the UVCC SkillsUSA Chapter to this elite status.
