500 YUHSD students attend SkillsUSA Leadership Conference

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Wednesday about 500 students from Yuma Union High School district came together for the SkillsUSA region one leadership conference.

Hundreds of students are at the Yuma Civic Center to develop their technical, personal, and workplace skills to become a strong leader in the workforce.

SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce.

“It works with closing the skills gap that we have within America and so I think it should be known a lot more than it is now and I think it is good that we get the word out there that SkillsUSA focuses on preparing its members to be better workers within America,” said Desiraee Diaz, SkillsUSA State Vice President.

The students are part of a career and technical education program at their high school.

Some CTE classes include law and public safety, culinary, engineering, photography, and welding.
 
San Luis High School’s welding teacher, Esmeralda Alvarado says she was a part of skills USA when she attended Kofa High School.

“I learned a lot of technical skills such as welding so that allowed me to be able to graduate and just go ahead and start a job welding. Being in SkillsUSA is really important if you’re a young teenager who has no idea what trade they want to go into because whether they decide to go into that field or not, they at least know they have some experience,” said Esmeralda Alvarado, San Luis High School Chapter Advisor.

Alvarado says welding and SkillsUSA helped her find her path in life and she hopes she can guide her students to their path. 

“When I look at the students I do actually see myself in them, I’m like I remember when I was like you,” said Alvarado.

Since then, Alvarado has held multiple welding jobs and is now teaching the next generation of welders.