SkillsUSA

  • Posted February 2, 2022
SkillsUSA DHS Students

By: By: Charly Wyatt, SkillsUSA Chapter Reporter and Maggie Lehman, Drafting Instructor at DHS

SkillsUSA is a Career and Technical Education (CTE) student-run organization at Dickinson High School. SkillsUSA teaches students personal, workplace, and technical skills to ensure America has the best-skilled workforce. Dickinson High School SkillsUSA is open to grades 9-12 students enrolled in a qualifying CTE class in the areas of Health Sciences, Welding, Drafting, Construction, Automotive, or Powersports.

This year students attended both the Fall Leadership Conference in Valley City, as well as the Mid-America Conference in Columbus, NE.  While at these conferences, the students learned networking, leadership, and collaboration skills.  After the leadership conferences, our group has been working on fundraising projects to help students in need at DHS.  Their most recent fundraiser was an ice cream social.

A group of 6 skillsUSA studentSkillsUSA allows students to take the industry standard-skills they learn in the classroom and apply them to real-world scenarios.  It creates partnerships for students, teachers, and industry to develop educational advancement, as well as scholarship and job opportunities. Over the years, Dickinson High School and Roughrider Area Career and Tech (RACTC) have had many successes at the State Level.  Most recently, DHS and RACTC had five state winners in April of 2021, Welding (DHS), Architectural Drafting (DHS), Automotive (DHS), Dental Assisting (RACTC), and Pin Design (RACTC).  Those students who win at the state level go on to compete at the National SkillsUSA and Leadership Conference.  Again, in past years, DHS has been very successful.  In June 2017, DHS Powersports finished 4th place; 2018 1st; and 2019 2nd place.

The Dickinson Chapter has (7) chapter officers: President Kate Enney, Vice President Hunter Moreno, Secretary Justin Wardell, Treasurer Bailey Binstock, Parliamentarian Jarrid Kostelecky, Historian Austin Barnhart, and Reporter Charly Wyatt. SkillsUSA chapter advisors are Mrs. Lehman (Drafting), Mrs. Sadowsky (Health Sciences), Mr. Smith (PowerSports /Auto), Mr. Hauck (Welding), Mrs. Guillaume (Health Sciences), Mr. Schmidt (Building Trades), and Mrs. Rhode (Health Sciences).

The team is working very hard to prepare for state competition in the following contests: 

  • Welding
  •  Carpentry
  • Health Knowledge Bowl
  • Related Technical Math
  •  Prepared Speech
  • Auto Service Technician
  •  Job Skill Demonstration
  • Technical Drafting
  • Architectural Drafting
  • Firefighting
  • Power Equipment Tech
  • Welding Fabrication Team
  • Building Trades Teamworks
  •  Pin Design
  • First Aid/CPR
  •  Job Interview
  • Welding Sculpture

The ND State Competition will be held in Wahpeton, April 3-5th, and the state winners will compete in Atlanta, GA, in June.  GOOD LUCK, everyone!!!!