March 21, 2019

Charleston, W.Va. – More than 750 West Virginia Career Technical Education students will participate in the 2019 state SkillsUSA competition in locations throughout north central West Virginia. The event brings together the best CTE students in the state allowing each of them to showcase their skills in 52 sectors including automotive service technology, masonry and urban search and rescue.

West Virginia has a long tradition of skills-based CTE competitions ranging back to the late 1960s. The annual state conferences allow students the opportunity to demonstrate the skills and expertise they have developed as a part of their CTE education. The state has 4,800 registered SkillsUSA members.

Winners from local CTE competitions will attend the state conference. Most of them are high school seniors, however, some juniors will attend. Winners at the state level will travel to the 2019 National SkillsUSA Championships in Louisville, Ky., June 24-28.

“This weekend represents the culmination of two years of hard work in which our students have dedicated themselves to developing their skills as well as those soft skills needed for success,” said Dr. Kathy D’Antoni Associate Superintendent of Career Technical Education. “Our students are career-ready when they leave our centers thanks to our Simulated Workplace program that equips them with valuable work experience. We value the role our instructors play in preparing our students to fully participate in the workforce.”

This weekend’s SkillsUSA competitions will take place at centers throughout north central West Virginia including the Advanced Technology Center, Fairmont; the Clarksburg North View Station; Cummins Crosspoint, White Hall; Fairmont State University, Fairmont; the Monongalia Technical Center, Morgantown; Robert C. Byrd Institute, Bridgeport; the United Technical Center, Clarksburg; and the West Virginia Carpenter’s Training Center, Bridgeport.

Competitions begin as early as 8 a.m. on Friday, March 22, at several sites including the welding competition at the United Technical Center. The opening ceremony is at 6:30 p.m. on Friday at the Fairmont State University Feaster Center Gymnasium.