The SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference was held June 22 - June 26, 2015, at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Kentucky. Over 6,100 outstanding career and technical education students joined in the excitement of hands-on competition in 100 different trade, technical, and leadership fields. The SkillsUSA Championships, held June 24 – June 25, 2015, was the national-level competition for public high school and college students enrolled in career and technical education programs. Each SkillsUSA Championships contestant is a state-level gold medalist.
Saint Paul College PSEO/Cabinetmaking program student David Miller received the gold medal in the Cabinetmaking competition at the high school level. The Minnesota Delegation of over 185 students, advisors, voting delegates and national education team members were on hand for the weeklong event. The winners of the annual SkillsUSA Championships were announced Friday evening, June 26, 2015 at the Awards Ceremony of the National Leadership and Skills Conference.
“We congratulate David Miller on his achievement,” said Frank Braswell, Dean for Business, Career and Technical Education Programs. “David was an excellent student, who graduated in May, and a fine example of the quality of our students. Congratulations also to Tom Hillstead, instructor, on his outstanding leadership of both our cabinetmaking program and the SkillsUSA initiative.”
“The trip was very exciting and it was great to see the
level of support there is for the cabinetmaking industry from all the sponsors,
” said champion David Miller. “Anyone who is even remotely interested in
furthering their skills and knowledge in their trade or vocational skill,
should check out SkillsUSA at your school.” Miller said it was a life changing
experience for him, and motivated him to become a better cabinetmaker and a
better person. His biggest thanks goes to Tom Hillstead, his cabinetmaking
instructor “for teaching me my trade and encouraging me to get involved with
SkillsUSA.”
Cabinetmaking
From L to R: National technical committee member Kristine Cox; High school silver medalist Evan Stigale, Gloucester County Institute of Technology (NJ); gold medalist David Miller, Saint Paul College (Minn.); and bronze medalist Anthis Career Center (In.). Back row L to R: technical committee member Saul Martin, postsecondary/college silver medalist Michael Armstrong, College of Southern Idaho (Idaho); postsecondary/ college gold medalist Justin Lewis, Utah Valley University (Utah); bronze medalist Nathan Bugbee, New England Institute of Technology (R.I.); and national technical committee member Naomi Cohen. Photo courtesy SkillsUSA
