National SkillsUSA Medalists, Adairsville Students Visit Capitol

The day before the 2013-2014 school year started started in Cartersville, Gov. Nathan Deal congratulated Georgia student medalists from the 2013 SkillsUSA National Championships, including a group of Bartow County students, at a picture ceremony, recognizing their talents and success in the skilled trades. Each of the eight visiting students from schools all over Georgia was awarded a medal for demonstrating unmatched talent in a wide range of professional skills.

“These eight students are embarking on a career path that will benefit themselves individually and promote our economy as a whole,” Deal said in a press release. “We must continue training a workforce that is equipped to fill skilled labor jobs in order to remain competitive nationally and become the No. 1 place in the nation to do business.”

The SkillsUSA students who visited the Capitol include the TeamWorks high school team from Adairsville High School, the Welding Fabrication high school team from Camden County High School, and the Welding Sculpture post-secondary finalist from Southern Crescent Technical College. Each participant proceeded to the championship competition in Kansas City, Mo. after winning the state champion title in their respective fields.

“We are so proud of the students that Gov. Deal honored yesterday,” said Scott Shelar, executive director of Construction Education Foundation of Georgia (CEFGA). “To beat out the very best from every other state in the country, that is really something special."

SkillsUSA pairs with CEFGA to celebrate some of the best in high school skilled trades with exciting competitions between promising students every year. Beyond offering students real-world experience through competitions, SkillsUSA is focused on providing a way of learning for each participant.

The Governor’s Office of Workforce Development, through Go Build Georgia, is committed to partnering with both SkillsUSA and CEFGA to educate the public about opportunities in the skilled trades and to strengthen the next generation of the workforce.

“As the skilled labor gap in our state continues to grow, organizations such as SkillsUSA are critical in providing students with the necessary real-world experiences that attract employers,” said Blake Ashbee, executive director of the Governor’s Office of Workforce Development. “The Go Build Georgia team is proud to support these students as they take their first steps toward rewarding careers in the industry.”

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