POLYTECH High School is excited to announce that two students have placed in the top three
at the 2018 SkillsUSA National Championships in Louisville, KY. This annual event brings
together over 6,500 first place winners in more than 100 Career and Technical Skill events from
all 50 states. Robert Bell received the Bronze medal (3rd place) in the Internetworking
competition and Ashish D’Souza received the Gold medal (1st place) in Computer
Programming. Both students are currently juniors at POLYTECH High School and hope to
return to SkillsUSA continue to place in the top students among the nation in 2019. Shown in
the picture are Ashish D’Souza (left), instructor Mr. Dennis Haley (middle), and Robert Bell
(right). Job Ready, Day One! 

• Ashish D’Souza – What does meaning a goal medal at SkillsUSA mean to you?
        Winning the gold medal at the National SkillsUSA Computer Programming championship was
  the most exciting and rewarding moment in my high school career. I started competing in the
  computer programming competition in my freshman year as a last-minute replacement. I was
  passionate about computer programming, and that led me to win the gold medal in Delaware
  SkillsUSA for three years in a row. My passion alone, however, was not going to win me a
  medal at the national conference; I knew I would need to widen my skills and practice. Thus, I
  talked to various computer science professors to try and improve my abilities, and even learned
  ways to program more efficiently. Finally, winning the gold medal will greatly help me on my
  path towards a career in computer science.

• Robert Bell – What does winning third place in Internetworking mean to you?
       SkillsUSA was an amazing experience for me. Just having the opportunity to meet people from
  all over the nation was unique in and of itself. The competition was challenging. I’m grateful to
  Polytech and Mr. Haley for the education I have received so far that prepared me so well. I had
  hoped to be in the top 20, so I was excited to see my name for the Bronze medal on the big
  screen! I also received many tools, an Amazon 7 tablet, Cisco equipment, and a $500
  scholarship! The added fun of going to Kentucky Kingdom was the perfect way to end a week
  full of new and fun things. I look forward to participating in next year’s competition. ~Bob Bell, 16
  yrs old, entering senior year.

     Highly skilled students and advisors from across Delaware attended the 54^th annual National SkillsUSA Leadership Conference from June 24-29, 2018 in Louisville, Kentucky. Delaware students represented our state in competitive events that such as: Architectural Drafting, Automotive Service Technology, Aviation Maintenance Technology, Carpentry, Computer Programming, Cosmetology, Criminal Justice, Diesel Equipment Technology, Electronics Technology, Extemporaneous Speaking, Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, Industrial Motor Controls, Information Technology, Masonry, Plumbing, Prepared Speech, Technical Math, Welding, and more.

Highlights include:

• A delegation of 83 students and advisors from 6 schools represented Delaware in national competition.

• Delaware students earned Top 10 national honors.

• Eight students honored as national medalists.  Gold Medalist: Ashish D’Souza (Computer Programming); Bronze Medalist(s):Chase Albright, Ryan Bradley, Sydney Gross, and Hannah Wolk (Broadcast News Production); Robert Bell (Internetworking); and Alex Colon Perez (Sheet Metal).

Top 10 National Placement:

1^st place            Computer Programming                                  Ashish D’Souza of POLYTECH High School

3^rd place            Broadcast News Production                           Chase Albright, Ryan Bradley, Sydney Gross & Hannah Wolk of Sussex Tech High School

3^rd place            Internetworking                                                Robert Bell of POLYTECH High School

3^rd place            Sheet Metal                                                       Alex Colon Perez of Delcastle Tech High School

4^th place            Audio Radio Production                                  Jacob Hoffpauir & Josh Hoffpauir of Sussex Tech High School

6^th place            Advertising Design                                           Haley Norwood of Sussex Tech High School

7^th place            Career Pathways Human Services                 Denise Garcia Alonzo, Courtney Respes & Alyssa Todd of Delcastle Tech High School

7^th place            Welding Sculpture                                            Savion Hollis of Delcastle Tech High School

7^th place            Industrial Motor Control                                 William Shaha of St. Georges Technical High School

8^th place            Television (Video) Production                        Abigail Drummond and Julia Hardy of Sussex Tech High School

Participating Schools:

• Delcastle

• Hodgson

• Howard

• POLYTECH

• St. Georges

• Sussex Tech

Delaware SkillsUSA is a Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) dedicated to students who are interested in pursuing their future in technical careers. Through SkillsUSA, members have the opportunity to participate in career focused competitive events, take part in community service work, and become leaders for the organization in their school, state, and at the national level. SkillsUSA incorporates curricular and co-curricular experiences to emphasize the importance of knowledge, leadership, skill development, and teamwork. To learn more about Delaware SkillsUSA, please visit: http://delawareskillsusa.org/ or contact Mike Fitzgerald by phone at: 302.735.4015 or by email at: Mike.Fitzgerald@doe.k12.de.us.

On April 13, 2018 business, industry, and academic partners from throughout Delaware and the Mid-Atlantic region gathered Wednesday to honor SkillsUSA members at the Modern Maturity Center in Dover. More than 300 students were recognized for their outstanding performance in 63 individual, team, technical, and leadership contests with nearly $875,000 in student scholarships and prizes awarded. The top medalist in each contest will further advance his or her outstanding achievement at the National SkillsUSA conference in Louisville, Kentucky.

Delaware SkillsUSA is a Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) that recognizes the importance of students, teachers, and industry partners working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA incorporates curricular and co-curricular experiences to emphasize the importance of knowledge, leadership, skill development, and teamwork

Click here for the list of results. Click here for the awards PowerPoint presentation.

The State Officers from Delaware SkillsUSA in collaboration with officers from Delaware Technology Student Association, Business Professionals of America, DECA, Educator’s Rising, Family Career and Community Leaders of America, and HOSA hosted the annual Fall Leadership Conference (FLC) at Delaware State University on October 25th, 2017.  The FLC was sponsored by the Delaware Department of Education, Delaware Advisory Council on Career and Technical Education, and Delaware State University with 831 participants representing 115 chapters who participated in a series of workshops that emphasized the importance of leadership and service through Career and Technical Education. The conference featured guest speaker House Minority Leader Daniel Short, Representative of the 39th District.

Delaware SkillsUSA State Officers participated in International Coastal Cleanup Day on Saturday, September 16th. Coastal Cleanup was sponsored by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC). SkillsUSA State Officers cleaned the shore line at Bethany Beach. Delaware’s Cleanup is also part of the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup, the world’s largest annual clearing of trash from coastlines and lakes by volunteers.