Fremont High School wins medals in SkillsUSA State Level Competition

SkillsUSA is an organization that aims to ensure America has a skilled workforce by empowering students to become world-class workers, leaders, and responsible American citizens. It is a nonprofit national education association that serves middle-school, high-school, and college/post-secondary students preparing for careers in trade, technical, and skilled service occupations. With a mission to improve the quality of the nation’s future skilled workforce through the development of SkillsUSA Framework skills, the organization is recognized as a successful model of employer-driven workforce development by the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Labor.

Fremont High School: A Diversity of Skills and Talent

One school that has recently seen success through participation in SkillsUSA is Fremont High School. The school has had several students compete at the state level in SkillsUSA, with many of them medaling or becoming state champions. The FHS SkillsUSA Chapter has had 16 State Champions and 29 medalists since 2014. The mission statement of the Fremont Public Schools is to produce creative, adaptable, productive citizens committed to lifelong learning.

Fremont High School had 10 competitors in 7 competitions at the Nebraska State SkillsUSA Conference, with students competing in Cabinet Making, Criminal Justice, Nursing Assisting, Photography, Precision Machining, Related Technical Math, and Welding. While scores and placings are still being determined for non-medalists, contest coordinators and judges spoke highly of the student members that represented FHS. Congratulations to the following students:

• Denver Fincham - SkillsUSA State Champion in Welding 
• Grant Rump - SkillsUSA State Champion in Criminal Justice (was also the state champion in 2022) 
• Brandon Gallo - SkillsUSA State 3rd Place in Precision Machining (was the state champion in 2022) 
• Emmanuel (Indigo) Salas - SkillsUSA 3rd Place in Photography 

SkillsUSA advisor Brad Ryun noted that the student’s success at the state level is a testament to the diversity of skills and talents that Fremont High School students possess. With SkillsUSA state champions and national qualifiers set to compete in Atlanta, Georgia, in June at the national convention, Ryun sees this as an opportunity for the students to learn about different cultures, work on projects with students from around the country, and grow both personally and professionally. SkillsUSA believes that career and technology-based education can give students the technical, academic, and employability skills needed to succeed. Whether students are headed for college or the workforce, this type of education will help them prepare for the future. College-bound students can even get job experiences to help them define their career plans, identify an appropriate course of study, and help pay for tuition.

In a world where the demand for skilled workers is increasing rapidly, SkillsUSA’s mission and vision to produce the most highly skilled workforce are more important than ever. Fremont High School’s success in SkillsUSA is a testament to the value of career and technology-based education and its opportunities for students to excel in their chosen fields. As students continue to participate in SkillsUSA and similar organizations, they will build technical skills and develop the personal and workplace skills essential for success in any career.