February 15th, 2008
OK tech students to compete in 37th SkillsUSA-VICA championships
More than 2,000 students will convene in Oklahoma City for the 37th annual SkillsUSA-VICA Leadership and Skills Championships Thursday-Saturday at the Biltmore Hotel and the state fairgrounds.
SkillsUSA-VICA is the career and technology student organization associated with trade and industrial education. Its motto is “producing skilled, educated work force leaders, ” said Mark Clemons, SkillsUSA-VICA state director.
He said students will compete in more than 70 contests including categories such as cosmetology, advertising design, welding, photography, carpentry and auto service technology. “About 300 educators and business people will serve as judges for these competitive events,” he said.
Clemons said that many SkillsUSA-VICA members are training to go into career fields currently facing shortages. These include occupations such as construction, carpentry and auto service technology. Skilled workers are in high demand according to a study by the state CareerTech agency. The study shows that the construction industry is projected to add more than 11,000 jobs and account for about 24 percent of Oklahoma’s top industry employment growth from 1994-2005.
Several competition winners will receive scholarships to attend technical colleges and other post-secondary education institutions.