HCTC SkillsUSA students represent college, state at national conference

James Hall and Michael Salvador, SkillsUSA students at Hazard Community & Technical College (HCTC), represented the college and the state of Kentucky at this year's National Leadership and Skills Conference, June 24-28, in Atlanta.

Hall and Salvador both won first place at the state conference in their respective categories, electrical construction and welding. Each national contestant was a state gold medalist. These HCTC representatives were among 100 additional contestants from the state's 16 SkillsUSA regions.

SkillsUSA aligns with course curriculums in technical and skilled trades, strengthening hands-on skills, preparing workers for the skilled trades and growing a highly qualified workforce of professionals. The organization provides students with opportunities to hone their personal, workplace and technical skills.

Dean of Advanced & Professional Technologies Tony Back said the students' opportunity to compete at the national level was significant.

"It's incredible witnessing how they not only represented their programs and our college well but also the entire state of Kentucky with such professionalism. I am so proud of them," he said. "The skills they're learning in Hazard are on par with students nationwide. I can't explain how difficult it is to reach this milestone. They persevered and worked hard to achieve this opportunity."

SkillsUSA's core values relate to HCTC's mission of empowering students by providing equitable educational opportunities that lead to student success, rewarding careers and community enhancement.

The national conference is the largest skill competition in the world and the single largest day of industry volunteerism in America. The organization represents 139 different occupational areas and adds contests to the conference each year in line with industry demands.

For more information about the event, visit the National Leadership & Skills Conference webpage.