HERSHEY, Pa., Feb. 22, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Milton Hershey School high school students recently had the chance to test their professional abilities and career technical skills at the 2019 District SkillsUSA Competition. A total of 14 MHS students competed against 22 technical schools from across Central Pennsylvania and applied their technical abilities in multiple career concentrations.
Eight students were recognized with gold and silver medals based on their abilities, knowledge, and sportsmanship in events like crime scene investigation, architectural drafting, and technical math.
"This experience is very valuable on students' resumes and is recognized by employers and postsecondary schools nationwide," said Michael DeAcosta, the SkillsUSA advisor at MHS.
To prepare for the SkillsUSA competition, students were mentored by MHS staff members who held weekly training sessions for the past six months. These experiences helped students learn from professionals in their chosen field and expand on their classroom learning.
The following eight students received SkillsUSA medals for their exceptional abilities in specialized career fields:
- Prestin Barrows— Silver medalist for Architectural Drafting
- Kloé Cunningham— Gold medalist for Crime Scene Investigation
- Davan Hanley— Silver medalist for Customer Service
- Riley Hoppe— Gold medalist for Crime Scene Investigation
- Janet-Nicole Riddick— Silver medalist for Prepared Speech
- Rachel Seymour— Gold medalist for Job Interview
- Morgan Todd— Gold medalist for Crime Scene Investigation
- Mariah Weisenmiller— Silver medalist for Related Technical Math
After receiving gold medals, MHS sophomores Kloé Cunningham, Riley Hoppe, and Morgan Todd, and MHS senior Rachel Seymour, will advance to the SkillsUSA State Championship in April. In addition, senior Matthew Ng will move on to the state level due to his exceptional abilities in Technical Drafting. If students receive a gold medal at the state level, they will advance to the National Championship.
SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers, and industry professionals working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. The MHS SkillsUSA chapter is connected to the school's award-winning Career and Technical Education (CTE) program. All high school students have the opportunity to choose from one of 11 career pathways where they receive specialized courses, hands-on learning opportunities, professional workplace experience, and more than 80 industry-recognized certification opportunities. Programs like SkillsUSA provide students with additional career exposure and preparation before graduating high school.
More information about Milton Hershey School's CTE program can be found at mhskids.org.
SOURCE Milton Hershey School
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