YUHSD students attend leadership training on Capitol Hill
SkillsUSA sponsors the five-day conference
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - The Yuma Union High School District (YUHSD) announces a group of 99 Career & Technical Education (CTE) students recently returned from the annual SkillsUSA Washington Leadership Training Institute (WLTI) in Washington, D. C.
Every year, SkillsUSA sponsors the five-day leadership training opportunity which teaches attendees how to effectively communicate with legislative representatives, along with grounding workplace and technical skills in academics. This year, it took place from Saturday, September 18 to Wednesday, September 22.
“WLTI provides our students with the best opportunities to apply their knowledge of professional and communication skills during their congressional visits and the laying of the wreath at Arlington National Cemetery,” Yuma High School CTE Instructional Leader Tamara Kay said.
A total of 330 students representing 18 states took part in monument tours, congressional visits, laying wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknowns and a visit to the National Leadership Center.
According to YUHSD CTE Executive Director Lorie Honeycutt, safety measures and strict protocols helped make the 2021 event possible.
“Safety changed some of our plans this year, but it was still an excellent experience for the students,” Honeycutt shared. “Our meetings with the senators and representatives had to be virtual, but since Arizona had the most students, we used the ballroom and the new state director did a great job making the virtual experience work.
The importance of congressional visits has always been stressed at WLTI. 2021 was no different.
"One student was chosen to represent each school and a second student from each school got to ask the congressional leaders a question. I was extremely proud of our students’ commentaries and their questions," continued Honeycutt. "They did a stellar job. Even the national staff commented on how well spoken our students were.”
YUHSD Superintendent Gina M. Thompson explained SkillsUSA educates students to understand that the workplace requires people to participate in high-quality training systems, and has successfully been doing with students of all ages and backgrounds.
"The SkillsUSA WLTI was very educational and fun,” Gila Ridge High School student Reid Sommer said. “I learned about communication and saw many amazing monuments in D.C. I would definitely go again and invite others to become a part of [their CTE class Career and Technical Student Organization]."
SkillsUSA is one of the nation's largest individual membership organizations for career and technical students and its programs are integrated into the CTE curriculum. Students who complete a CTE program in YUHSD have a 100 percent graduation rate.
Gila Ridge Education Professions Teacher Tricia Ellsworth added, “The opportunity to chaperone students to WLTI was a blessing. Giving students the chance to travel, interact with other SkillsUSA leaders from across the country, and visit landmarks and museums in Washington DC is once in a lifetime for these students. My students were very grateful for this leadership experience.”
