September 2, 2005
State Schools Chief Jack O'Connell Announces Winners
of National Leadership and Skills Conference
SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell announced today that fourteen students in California's high school and community college career technical education programs received the highest awards at the recent SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference.
"I am extremely proud of the students receiving this award," said O'Connell. "These types of programs are valuable to our education system because they offer students real-life hands-on training as well as rigorous academic experience."
Students receiving the SkillsUSA award are recognized for their demonstration of excellence in 80 hands-on occupational and leadership contests. These can range from robotics to criminal justice to aviation or public speaking. Industry judges assess them on their skills and academics.
As part of his high school reform initiative, O'Connell has advocated the expansion of rigorous career and technical education programs. At O'Connell's direction, the California Department of Education has worked with the University of California to expand the number of high quality career and technical education programs that meet the course requirements for admission to the UC and CSU system.
SkillsUSA is a premier national business–education partnership that helps students improve their academic and technical skills throughout the nation. It is one of eight recognized career and technical education student organizations recognized under The Carl D. Perkins Vocational And Technical Education Act.
The Skills USA medalists for California are:
- Gregory Sams of Compton and a student at Abram Friedman Occupational Center, Los Angeles, was awarded the college/postsecondary gold medal in Action Skills;
- Angell Sanchez of Salinas and a student at Mission Trails ROP, Salinas, was awarded the high school gold medal in Food and Beverage Service;
- Margot Lennon of Lake Elsimore and a student at Riverside Community College, Riverside, was awarded the college/postsecondary silver medal in Culinary Arts;
- Tamara Smith, a student at Riverside community College, Riverside, was awarded the college/postsecondary silver medal in Advertising Design;
- Asher Sherburne of Yucaipa and a student at San Bernardino Valley College, San Bernardino, was awarded the college/postsecondary silver medal in CNC Milling;
- Jonathan Bruns from Bear Creek High School, Stockton, was awarded the high school silver medal in Related Technical Math;
- Luis Gonzalez, a student at Bell Gardens High School, Bell Gardens, was awarded the high school bronze medal in Job Skill Demonstration A;
- Matt Funkhouser, a student at Ramona High School, Ramona, was awarded the college/postsecondary bronze medal in Automotive Service Technology;
- Tim Connor from Colton and a student in Riverside Community College, Riverside, was awarded the college/postsecondary bronze medal in Photography;
- Matt Andreasian, and a student at Salinas High School, Salinas, was awarded the high school bronze medal in Cabinetmaking;
- Scott Moore, from Diamond Bar and a student at Mount San Antonio College, Walnut, was awarded the college/postsecondary bronze medal in Electronics Technology;
- Team E, consisting of J Baker and Crystal Craig, from Riverside Community College, Riverside, was awarded the College/Postsecondary Bronze medal in Television (Video) Production;
- Team E, consisting of Maria Vargas, from ELA Occupational Center, Los Angeles, was awarded the College/Postsecondary Gold medal in Promotional Bulletin Board.
All student winners receive a medallion. Many also receive prizes such as work tools and/or scholarships.
For Further information: http://www.skillsusa.org (Outside Source).
