RIPLEY - Students from the Wood County Technical Center last week attended the SkillsUSA West Virginia Fall Leadership Conference.
The students with ProStart Instructor Barbara Boardman attended the conference Oct. 27-28 at the Cedar Lakes Conference Center in Ripley.
“While there, the students participated in leadership sessions that discussed Work Ethics, Self-Motivation, Financial Management, Tech Essentials and Elevator Speech writing,” Boardman said. “Wednesday evening, they participated in team building exercises with Extreme Sports, like Tug of War and an Obstacle course.”
SkillsUSA is an organization comprised of students in technical and career programs throughout the nation. Wood County Technical Center and Caperton Center for Applied Technology programs that participate in the organization are ProStart/ Culinary Arts, Carpentry, Collision Repair, Computer Repair, Law Enforcement/ Public Safety, Automotive Technology, Fire Fighting/EMS, Electricity, Computer Aided Drafting & Design and Welding.
Bobby Cales, Colonel of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources Police, was the keynote speaker and spoke to the attendees about perseverance and setting goals. His career ranged from his start with the Henton Police Department to his current position appointed by Gov. Jim Justice, July 21, 2021.
Boardman said the event was a milestone for the attending students.
“Their goal while in attendance was to acquire the coveted Statesman Award Pin,” she said. which is “the highest award to obtain as a member of SkillsUSA.
Members receiving that pin were Rachel Murphy, Elizabeth Cochran, Colorado Sampson and Trinity Parker.