Center for Advanced Technical Studies honored as a National Model of Excellence school by SkillsUSA

For Immediate Release – June 2, 2021

Center for Advanced Technical Studies honored as a National Model of Excellence school by SkillsUSA

IRMO –The Center for Advanced Technical Studies (The Center) has been named as a National Models of Excellence school for 2021 by SkillsUSA.

The Center is one of 24 schools nationwide to receive this honor and the only school in South Carolina to receive it. This is the second year in a row that the SkillUSA chapter at The Center has been recognized for this honor. The annual program recognizes the exceptional integration of personal, workplace and technical skills into SkillsUSA chapter activities.  This is the highest honor bestowed on chapters by SkillsUSA, which is among the largest student organizations for career and technical education.

"I find myself constantly bragging about our students, our teachers, and our community partners. Being named top 24 in the nation for the second year in a row is a testament to the incredible work put forth by our members and partners,” said Joseph Chapman, Lead Advisor for The Center’s SkillsUSA chapter. “This year has been full of opportunities to show our ability to adapt and be creative so that our students and community can gain brighter futures. I am always proud of the commitment of so many towards a common goal. We truly have the best students, teachers, administration, and community partners that a SkillsUSA chapter could ask for."

Chelle Travis, executive director of SkillsUSA, added, “Our Models of Excellence represent the very best in chapter achievement and community involvement.  These students represent America’s future skilled workforce and are future leaders in their local communities.  It is a tremendous honor for these chapters and the recognition validates these outstanding SkillsUSA programs.”

The top 24 SkillsUSA chapters selected as Models of Excellence will be evaluated in June for top honors.  A panel of judges will evaluate each of these highest-level schools based on their goals, plan of action, results, evaluation and SkillsUSA Framework integration.  Business and industry partners will conduct finalist interviews with students and advisors, and then help select the top three schools to be recognized on June 24 during the National Leadership and Skills Conference Virtual Recognition Session. The focus of Models of Excellence is student-led activation.  These students learn and practice the skills that every employer seeks, including leadership, initiative, communication, teamwork and problem solving by taking the lead on all SkillsUSA activities.  Their SkillsUSA instructors take the education of these students to the next level by guiding them, but never doing the work for them, elevating learning from classroom instruction to successful application of skills.

“We are delighted that our SkillsUSA chapter at The Center has again been named a National Model of Excellence. Often it is more difficult to maintain excellence than it is to achieve excellence initially,” said Dr. Al Gates, School District Five Director of Career and Technical Education. “Our students and sponsors demonstrated exceptional work during the pandemic to earn this recognition. Participation in SkillsUSA helps students see applications of their classroom learning by focusing on technical skills, workplace skills, and personal skills. Mr. Chapman is to be commended for his passion and commitment to students as they explore career possibilities.”

SkillsUSA is a nonprofit partnership of education and industry founded in 1965 to strengthen our nation's skilled workforce. SkillsUSA has more than 372,000 annual members nationwide in high schools, middle schools and colleges, covering over 130 trade, technical and skilled service occupations, and is recognized by the U.S. Departments of Education and Labor as integral to career and technical education. With the addition of our alumni, membership last year was 434,141. For more information please visit, www.skillsusa.org.

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