Wallace State Community College’s Andrew Cooper of Odenville brought home a gold medal after competing at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference last week in Atlanta. Cooper, along with partner Avielle Shadrick of Cullman, took top honors in the Robotics and Automation Technology competition.
“We commend our SkillsUSA Medalists and their faculty, and we are very proud of all of our outstanding competitors,” said Wallace State President Dr. Vicki Karolewics. “The stellar performance of our SkillsUSA Medalists demonstrates why Wallace State is a leader in workforce development in Alabama.”
More than 15 Wallace State students competed June 25-28 at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta, with eight students earning gold medals, three earning silver medals and one earning a bronze medal.
“Congratulations to our outstanding students for their remarkable achievement in placing at the SkillsUSA Nationals,” said Jerry Murks, Dean of Applied Technologies at Wallace State. “Their dedication, hard work, and skill have truly paid off, showcasing the exceptional talent and determination within our community. We are incredibly proud of their success and the bright future that lies ahead for each of them.”
The students were among more than 6,600 students from across the United States competing in 115 occupational and leadership skills areas.
Students earned the right to compete at the national competition after winning medals at the Alabama State Leadership and SkillsUSA Championships held in April in Mobile.
SkillsUSA is the #1 workforce development organization for students. Its goal is to empower students to become skilled professionals, career-ready leaders and responsible community members. SkillsUSA is a nonprofit that serves high school, college and middle school students who are preparing for careers or further education in trade, technical and skilled service occupations, including health occupations. A partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce, SkillsUSA helps each student excel.
SkillsUSA offers local, state and national opportunities for students to learn and practice personal, workplace and technical skills. These three components comprise the SkillsUSA Framework, a blueprint for career readiness. Local chapters conduct a full Program of Work, and many students attend a district or state conference.