Three senior student leaders at the Center for Advanced Technical Studies (The Center) have been elected to SkillsUSA South Carolina State Office positions for the 2020-2021 school year: Raymond Jedlicka (Machine Tool Technology from Spring Hill High), Katherine Stodden (Law Enforcement Services from Spring Hill High), and Megan vanVollenhoven (Law Enforcement Services from Chapin High).
Megan vanVollenhoven was named the State President, Katherine Stodden was named the State Vice President, and Raymond Jedlicka was named the State Treasurer.
State Officeholders usually gain their title within the State Officer Team during the summer after completing National and State level training, it was canceled due to COVID-19. The decision was made after many hours of virtual training through the national office under the supervision of national officers, national staff, and the South Carolina State Director. This is the second consecutive year the SkillsUSA chapter at The Center has earned multiple state officers.
“Having our students named to three of the top four spots is amazing. I am extremely proud of these three and excited for what they will offer the thousands of student members statewide,” said The Center’s SkillsUSA Advisor Joe Chapman. “It is not surprising however that they would achieve this. All three have worked so many hours to improve their personal and professional skills over the years. Their dedication to bettering themselves and their community is simply paying off.”
Every SkillsUSA Chapter across the state is awarded delegates based on member count and they vote for State Officers. Each candidate had to provide a video speech this year, go through an interview and complete a test. Those results combined with the delegate voting determines the state officers.
This is the 7th year The Center has had a SkillsUSA Chapter, but the first year the chapter has had an elected student board and provided opportunities to the students beyond the competition. The school has 260 members including 16 advisors/teachers.
Additionally, School District Five alumnus Madison Kenney is now the new South Carolina Director of SkillsUSA. Kenney served as the 2015-2016 State President herself while attending the Center for Advanced Technical Studies. She served as the alumni member on the State Board while attending the University of South Carolina from 2016 – 2020 before being named the new State Director.
The SkillsUSA Chapter at The Center is the only chapter in South Carolina to reach the CEP Level 2 Gold recognition during the 2019-2020 school year. Achieving this level of recognition can only be reached through the dedication and hard work of both students, teachers and industry partners.
All Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs in School District Five offer students the opportunity to participate in a Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO). In addition to SkillsUSA, School District Five students may participate in FFA, HOSA (Future Health Care Professionals), TSA (Technology Student Association), FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America), DECA (Entrepreneurship/Marketing), Prostart (Culinary Arts) and FCCLA (Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America). For more information about any CTSO, contact your CTE teacher or call the Center for Advanced Technical Studies.
