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| Essex Tech’s Thomas Williamson, center, and other SkillsUSA Massachusetts chapter officers, pose during their trip to the SkillsUSA Washington Leadership Training Institute. (Photo Courtesy Essex Tech) |
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We are pleased to share that Essex Tech junior Thomas Williamson recently attended the SkillsUSA Washington Leadership Training Institute (WLTI). |
| The Institute was held in Washington, D.C. from Sept. 17-21, and provided students an opportunity to grow their professionalism, communication and leadership skills. SkillsUSA offers advanced training for students and advisors that focuses on professionalism, communication and leadership skills. This training allows members the opportunity to share their SkillsUSA and career and technical experiences with elected officials. |
| Williamson, a Danvers resident in the Information Technology Services pathway, is serving as SkillsUSA Massachusetts State Parliamentarian for the 2022-2023 school year. |
| “My favorite part of WLTI was meeting the head of human resources for the U.S. Naval Reserve, and a former SkillsUSA state officer from Massachusetts. We got to spend the day with him, including a visit to the U.S. Naval Museum and also while he gave a speech at the Pentagon Memorial,” Williamson said. “The skills I learned and the experiences I had at WLTI are going to stick with me for the rest of my life. I feel honored to represent Massachusetts and Career Technical Education, along with SkillsUSA to people who can help us make a difference.” |
| Students talked to elected officials and staff members about their education paths and career technical education training programs, the value of CTE, and the benefits of SkillsUSA. They discussed the importance of career readiness skills in the modern workplace and how SkillsUSA develops these skills in students of all ages and backgrounds. |
| The overall goal of the meeting was to begin brainstorming ways for SkillsUSA Massachusetts to partner with the Department of Labor for workforce development and to close the skills gap. Students and staff plan to meet at a later date to continue brainstorming and to finalize the plans. |
| Attendees also toured numerous national landmarks. |
| “I’m not surprised that Tom was elected. He’s always been so focused during every minute in shop,” said Elaine Batzer, an Internet Technology Instructor and SkillsUSA Advisor. “His time management skills are top notch and he sets a great example for his fellow students. Now we have underclassmen who are motivated to run for state office this year, and follow in his footsteps.” |
About SkillsUSA
| SkillsUSA is a nonprofit partnership of education and industry founded in 1965 to strengthen our nation’s skilled workforce. Driven by employer demand, SkillsUSA helps students develop necessary personal and workplace skills along with technical skills grounded in academics. This SkillsUSA Framework empowers every student to succeed at work and in life while helping to close the skills gap in which millions of positions go unfilled. |
| Through SkillsUSA’s championships program and curricula, employers have long ensured schools are teaching relevant technical skills, and with SkillsUSA’s new credentialing process, they can now assess how ready potential employees are for the job. SkillsUSA has more than 366,000 annual paid members nationwide in high schools, colleges, and middle schools, 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 its alumni, membership last year was 427,432. The nonprofit has served nearly 14 million members since 1965. |
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