STUDENTS LEARN LEADERSHIP SKILLS

(November 19, 2010)...Each year a group of students involved in Skills USA from the Indiana County Technology Center (ICTC) attend a fall leadership conference in Seven Springs.  This year the conference was held October 27-29, 2010.  Skills USA is a national nonprofit organization serving high school students who are preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations.  The Skills USA mission is to help students become world-class workers and responsible American citizens.  Skills USA at the ICTC is under the direction of advisers, Sandy Zulick, Robert Piccirillo and Cathy Jones.

Attending this year’s conference were, morning officers, Kelly Haase, President; Breanna Johnson, Vice President; Tiffany Scalise, Secretary; and Steven Sensabaugh, Treasurer.  Afternoon officers in attendance were, President, Brooke Brenner; Vice President, Molly McGuckin; and Secretary, Brittany Yankuskie.  Also in attendance were Aaron Buckley, Head Delegate; Autumn Patterson, Movie Producer and Bryan Musser.

At the leadership conference the students attend various classes on topics such as problem solving, leadership, time management and organization.  Classes start at 8 a.m. and end at 4 p.m. with a break for lunch.  Several schools compete in program related contests as well.  This year the ICTC received first place in a t-shirt design competition.  Since they were awarded first place their t-shirt design will be used next year as the logo for the t-shirts given to all participants of the leadership conference.  ICTC participants also received first place in the banner contest, second place in the door sign contest and festive pumpkin carving contest, and third place in a "penny drop" competition.

On November 11, 2010 four students traveled with advisor Sandy Zulick to Steel Center Vocational-Technical School to represent the ICTC in the Skills USA District Competition.  Competing were Matt Martin, Auto Technology; Tiffany Weston, Graphics & Electronic Media; Brooke Brenner, Culinary Arts; and Billie Jo Fairman, Electrical Occupations.  The ICTC is proud to announce that Brooke Brenner placed third in the Culinary Arts competition and Billie Jo Fairman will be going to State Competition in April for her first place finish at district competition in Electrical Occupations.  Other ICTC students will compete in district competition on January 17th.  Billie Jo will represent District 8 at state competition in April.

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