SkillsUSA Georgia News 2008-2009

SkillsUSA Georgia Powerpoint

1st place Candy Branch - Franklin County High School (ppt)

2nd place Sara Rutland - Dodge County High School (ppt)

3rd place Jonathan Chandler - Whitewater High School (ppt)

SkillsUSA Georgia Brochure

1st place William Anthony - R.W. Johnson HS *

2nd place Ashley Jackson - Kendrick High School *

3rd place Macie Glisson - Harris County High School *

Welcome to the School Year

Dear SkillsUSA Georgia Members,

It’s that time again! Summer break is over and school is starting. As a senior, I know I’ve been waiting for this year my whole life and I hope you’re as excited about your year as I am. And I’m especially pumped about being a part of SkillsUSA! My officer team and I are looking forward to serving you this year. We have already been working hard all summer to plan some of the best events and conferences that SkillsUSA Georgia has ever seen! I know that together we all are going to accomplish our goals for this year, whether it is passing chemistry, winning the first place in your competition, or having a successful job interview and establishing your career.

This is a new year, a fresh start. Set your goals high. But don’t just stop at setting goals, strive to make them reality! SkillsUSA Georgia has set some goals for this year as well: to boost our membership and increase involvement. We need your help! As members, it is your duty to spread the word about SkillsUSA! Talk to your friends about all the opportunities and fun that you have with SkillsUSA. Get together with your chapter and plan a membership drive at your school. This past year we shattered the membership records with over 302,000 members nationally. I hope you will use this year as a jumpstart to your future by taking full advantage of all the amazing opportunities offered with SkillsUSA and also sharing them with others.

The SkillsUSA Theme for this year is Champions at Work: Leadership in Transition. And as your SkillsUSA Georgia State President I am proud to become a champion at work while I use my leadership skills to transition into the real world and I encourage you to do the same! Have a great year!

Sincerely,
Victoria E. Slagle
SkillsUSA Georgia State President

National SkillsUSA Advisor of the Year
Region II Advisor of the Year named
Cheryl Rees
Kendrick High School
Columbus, Ga.

Cheryl Rees has been a SkillsUSA advisor for 18 years. A graphic arts instructor at Kendrick High School in Columbus, Ga., Rees has led her students to an astounding 92 regional medals, 82 state medals and eight national medals. But technical proficiency isn't the only aspect of education that concerns Rees. She also develops her students' leadership abilities, advising nine state officers in the past 11 years and helping her students coordinate community service projects by first assessing community needs and then developing their own unique projects. Rees has also been active in developing SkillsUSA Georgia's program, serving on the board of directors and as president of the SkillsUSA Advisors Association. She's received numerous honors during her tenure, such as the Air Force Outstanding Technology Educator award and SkillsUSA Georgia Advisor of the Year award (twice). Committed to lifelong learning, she also mentors other graphic arts instructors, helping them to achieve printing industry certifications. Described as "dynamic," "creative" and "tireless" by her peers, Rees is a true champion for career and technical education students.

Marietta Teen Takes Silver in National SkillsUSA Competition

(Atlanta, Ga., July 7, 2008)– Alyssa Ailion, a 2008 graduate of Walton High School in Marietta, Ga. placed second in the National SkillsUSA Graphic Communications Championship, held June 23 – 27, in Kansas City, Missouri. The gold medal went to John Litwinowicz, Royal Oak High School in Royal Oak, MI and the bronze to Chloe Grace, Autry Technology Center, Enid, OK. The competition was part of the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference where more than 5,000 outstanding career and technical education students joined in the excitement of hands-on competition in 91 different trade, technical, and leadership fields.

In addition to family and friends, Alyssa had members of the Printing and Imaging Association of Georgia cheering for her. PIAG’s Educational Foundation hosted the state competition in April at the Print Media Demonstration Center at Heidelberg USA in Kennesaw, Ga. Between the state and national competition, she received personalized training from industry representatives and completed an internship at American Color Graphics. To follow her training, visit http://skillsusa-anadvisorsperspective.blogspot.com/.

“The competition was difficult; I had to use everything I had learned not only in the past month during my training with members of PIAG and my internship at American Color Graphics, but in my whole career in graphic arts,” said silver medalist Alyssa Ailion. “Some things were completely new and I had to figure them out using prior knowledge.”

Contestants earned the opportunity to compete at the national event by placing first in regional then state competitions. Thirty-three contestants from around the country participated in the seven part graphic communications contest which included: Digital Workflow; Electronic Prepress (prepare a file with either QuarkXPress or InDesign on an Apple computer); Finishing (prepare table top folder for various folding exercises and a short written test); Offset Press Operations (prepare press, install plate, make ready to print, two color on a preprinted two color sheet); Oral Professional Assessment (participate in an interview exercise); Production Planning (solve production problems relating to paper, ink and production); and, Technical Knowledge Test (complete general technical knowledge test).

“This is the first year PIAG sponsored the SkillsUSA competition,” said David Canady, PIAG SkillsUSA chairman. “Taking second place in the nation shows the tremendous talent available in Georgia and the amazing results that can happen when industry takes an active part in student training.”

SkillsUSA is the national organization for students in trade, industrial, technical and health occupations education. It sponsors the SkillsUSA Championships annually to recognize the achievements of career and technical education students and to encourage them to strive for excellence and pride in their chosen occupations.

The contests are planned by technical committees made up of representatives of labor and management and are designed to test the skills needed for a successful entrylevel performance in given occupational fields. Safety practices and procedures - an area of great concern to labor and management alike - are judged and graded and constitute a portion of a contestant’s score.

About SkillsUSA SkillsUSA (www.skillsusa.org) is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled work force. The organization serves more than 280,000 students and instructors annually and has 13,000 school chapters in 54 state and territorial associations. More than 14,500 instructors and administrators are professional members of SkillsUSA.

About The Printing & Imaging Association Educational Foundation
The PIAG Educational Foundation is a nonprofit corporation established in 1985 as the educational and charitable arm of the Printing & Imaging Association of Georgia. The Foundation provides educational opportunities to industry professionals, career awareness programs for students and instructors and scholarship opportunities. The Foundation also promotes the printing and imaging profession within the state to future industry leaders and potential customers.

Congratulations!

Georgia Students Earn Kellogg Skill Point Certificates  * (Recipients pdf)

National Leadership and Skills Conference

National Leadership and Skills Conference Medalists and Finalists *(pdf)

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