Williams honored at championship

KANSAS CITY, MO — Students from Maine high school and college technical education programs won the nation's highest awards at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference.

Industry leaders representing over 1,100 businesses, corporations, trade associations and unions recognized the students for their demonstrated excellence in 94 hands-on occupational and leadership contests, such as robotics, criminal justice, aviation maintenance and public speaking. All contests are designed, run and judged by industry using industry standards.

Austin Williams of West Paris, a student at Oxford Hills Technical School, was awarded a Skill Point Certificate in Screen Printing Technology.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, students who take three or more career and technical education (CTE) programs in high school are more likely to attend college and stay there to graduate. In fact, 79% of CTE concentrators enrolled in postsecondary education within two years of high school graduation.

And, students in CTE programs have a higher-than-average high school graduation rate. The average high school graduation rate for students concentrating in CTE programs is 90% compared to an average national freshman graduation rate of 74.9%.

All contests are run and judged by industry experts using industry standards for employment. Contests assess hands-on, employability and academic skills. Over 1,700 industry judges and technical committee members participated this year.

The System recognizes students for excellence in occupational training; it assesses and documents the entry-level technical proficiency and cumulative experiences of candidates. For more information about the SkillsUSA Work Force Ready System, visit www.workforcereadysystem.com.