More than 2,300 career and technical education students from high schools and colleges across the state will compete at SkillsUSA Missouri’s State Leadership and Skills Conference April 5 and 6 at State Technical College of Missouri in Linn. The students will be demonstrating their skills in more than 150 contests. 

“These students are demonstrating more than just their skills; they are proving that our workforce is prepared to lead the way in every technical area our country needs to maintain a strong global economic presence. Our students graduate job-ready day one through the integration of workplace and personal skill development into their classroom curriculum,” said Joey Baker, state executive director of SkillsUSA Missouri. “We are very proud of this talented group of students who are true champions dedicated to excellence in their trades.”

During the competition, students will work against the clock and each other, proving their expertise in occupations such as information technology, computer-aided drafting, precision machining, welding, automotive service, medical assisting, carpentry, culinary arts and more. The contests are run with the help of industry experts, trade associations and labor organizations, and test competencies that are set by professional industry standards.

The winners will go on to compete in the national SkillsUSA Championships this June in Louisville, Ky.

A list of the competition categories is available online at www.skillsusamo.org or statetechmo.edu.

About SkillsUSA

SkillsUSA is a vital solution to the growing U.S. skills gap. This partnership of students, instructors and industry ensures America has the skilled workforce it needs to stay competitive. Founded in 1965 and endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education, the association serves more than 400,000 member students and instructors each year in middle schools, high schools and colleges. This diverse talent pipeline covers 130 trades and technical and skilled service occupations, the majority STEM-related. More than 600 corporations, trade associations, businesses and labor unions actively support SkillsUSA. SkillsUSA programs are integrated into career and technical education through a framework of personal, workplace and technical skills grounded in academics. Local, state and national championships designed and judged by industry, set relevant standards for career and technical education and provide needed recognition to its students. For more information about SkillsUSA, please visit www.skillsusamo.org/.