Washburn Tech students’ 2013 SkillsUSA achievement is a record for Washburn Tech.  The previous Washburn Tech record was set in 2012 with 47 medalists including 11 national qualifiers.  Washburn Tech students doubled the number of national qualifiers in 2013 over 2012.  All 14 Washburn Tech programs that competed at State this spring had students who won medals.  Washburn Tech SkillsUSA 2013 State medal winners include 13 high school students from eight area high schools as well as 46 post-secondary students.

The Washburn Tech chapter received the Chapter Membership Increase Award and David Praiswater, Washburn Tech SkillsUSA Lead Advisor, received the Lowes Membership Increase Award.  Additionally, Benjamin Dodge, Washburn Tech Graphics Technology student, won the competition for best Kansas SkillsUSA T-shirt design and his design appears on all 2013 Kansas SkillsUSA T-shirts.  Melinda Kinsch, Medical Office Specialist student, won the SkillsUSA Kansas Scholarship.

Approximately 1,150 college and high school students from across Kansas competed in 60 occupational and leadership skill areas offered at the state level.  Gold achievers from every U.S. state and territory will proceed to the 49^th Annual National Leadership and Skills Conference (SkillsUSA Nationals) at H. Roe Bartle Hall and other locations in Kansas City, held the week of June 24-28, 2013. 

The tremendous success at SkillsUSA-Kansas demonstrates the outstanding skills and abilities of Washburn Tech students as well as the quality of curriculum and instruction provided by Washburn Tech instructors.  Students representing Washburn Tech SkillsUSA are a great source of pride for Washburn Tech.

SkillsUSA is a national organization that serves technical, skilled, and service occupation instructional programs in public high schools, career and technical centers and schools and two and four year colleges in 54 state and territorial associations including Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands. 

SkillsUSA helps students discover and grow their career passions.  As a nationwide partnership of students, instructors, and industry working together, SkillsUSA works to ensure America has a skilled workforce.  It helps every student excel.  Career and technical education is learning that works for America.  SkillsUSA has the active support of more than 1,100 corporations, trade associations, business and labor unions at the national level.  More than 10.5 million people have been annual members of SkillsUSA since its founding as the Vocational Industrial Clubs of America in 1965.  SkillsUSA programs teach leadership, citizenship, and character development to complement technical skill training.  The organization emphasizes respect for the dignity of work, ethics, workmanship, scholarship, and safety.  For more information, please visit www.skillsusa.org.

Washburn Tech offers 25 technical programs, most of which are about 48 credits in length, in one of five divisions – Construction, Health Care, Transportation, Human Services, and Technology.  In addition, short-term continuing education and custom courses are offered.  Washburn Tech, which serves post-secondary and high school students, has one of the highest graduation rates of any public technical institution in Kansas, 83 percent.  To inquire about technical programs or future courses please contact Washburn Tech at 785.273.7140 or visit our website,www.washburntech.edu.

To inquire about technical programs or future courses please contact Washburn Tech at 785.273.7140 or visit our websitewww.washburntech.edu.