Latest news with #SkillsUSA
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Shining skill
Jun. 9—MOSES LAKE — This isn't exactly the Columbia Basin Technical Skills Center's first trip to the nationals. "For 11 years straight we have placed at state competition, and eight of those years we've qualified for nationals," said Terri Pixlee, who teaches video game programming at CBTECH. "We've been all over the country. We've been to Chicago, Utah, Georgia twice, Florida (and) Maryland and this will be our second time in California." Pixlee's students Alex Meyer, Hailey Harper and Ethan Huntley competed in April at the Future Business Leaders of America game programming competition in Bellevue, she said. One team of three students took second place and will go on to nationals in Anaheim, California. Another team of two, Neri Hernandez and Jaden Salazar, placed seventh, not high enough to be assured of a berth but enough to be alternates in case some other Washington team doesn't show. So far, that doesn't seem likely, Pixlee said. "It doesn't happen very often, but it does happen," she said. In addition, Felix Neutzhorn and Zander Leasher from the CBTECH Fire Sciences and Roan Prentice from the Automotive program qualified for nationals at the SkillsUSA state competitions in Spokane in March. They'll go to the national competition in Atlanta, Georgia in July. Prentice took first place at the state competition, said instructor Lonny Steinmetz. He and teammate David Couture also won first place at the Top Tech Challenge in Yakima. CBTECH was the first school to take first at the Top Tech Challenge twice in a row, Steinmetz added. Prentice came away from the competitions with more than just bragging rights, Steinmetz said. "He won about $56,000 in scholarships along with some tools," he said. For the video game competition, the students divide themselves into teams of three, usually including an artist, a programmer and a level designer, Pixlee said. At least one of those students also needs some serious presentation chops, she said. "It's like 'Shark Tank,'" she said. "They have to present their game and sell it as if they're selling it to one of the gaming houses, so it's really kind of important they have a speaker as well." The video game creators will be in Anaheim June 29-July 2, Pixlee said. They can't afford a side trip to Disneyland, she said, but there are other things they can occupy their off-time with. "There's plenty of attractions they want to see," she said. "Venice Beach, they want to, you know, things like that that don't cost much. We'll find a little arcade." The students going to Atlanta will be there June 23-27, said Fire Sciences teacher Lynn Dodd. "It's huge for these kids," Dodd said. "The student we took last year had barely ever been out of town. It's one of their first times getting to stay in a hotel, getting to go to these fancy restaurants, and then we were taking them on their first flights across the United States. And it's like, this is cool that these kids get this opportunity to compete with the best students of the state. That we get to be a part of that is pretty awesome."
Chicago Tribune
5 days ago
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Elgin News Digest: Elgin students attending Central High earn perfect ACT scores; census data shows Elgin still No. 6 in population in Illinois
Caleb Goldenstein and Sanay Gulati, Elgin residents who attend Central High School in Burlington, have earned perfect composite scores of 36 on the ACT test. Just 0.2% of students nationwide annually achieve a perfect score, according to a Central High School news release. 'I was in utter disbelief staring at the 36,' Gulati said in the release. 'I even had to check a couple of times to make sure I was reading it right. It was an incredible moment I'll never forget.' Gulati is the school's student council president, National Honor Society president and Key Club vice president. He's earned national recognition through SkillsUSA, math team and NIU Business Olympics, and co-founded the school's coding and debate clubs. In the release, Goldenstein said he spent so much time taking PSATs and preparing for the SAT that he didn't take the ACT too seriously. 'I was on college visits and working on my 'promposal' instead of studying,' he said. 'It was a complete shock when I opened up the score report.' Goldenstein has been a member of the school's soccer and lacrosse teams, belongs to the National Honor Society and German Honor Society, and is a state champion with Central's SkillsUSA team. He participates in Academic Bowl and the debate, German, service and investment clubs. Elgin remains the sixth most populous city in Illinois, according to recently released numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau. The city's population has increased from 113,922 in July 2023 to 114,710 in July 2024, census data shows. Despite the increase, Elgin remains at the sixth spot for total population outside of Chicago. Aurora is no. 2 with 180,710 residents, followed by Naperville,153,124; Joliet, 151,837; and Rockford, 147,486. Following Elgin is Springfield, Peoria, Champaign and Waukegan. Naperville's growth over the period was enough to move it from fourth most-populous state to third, surpassing Joliet. For more information, go to The Fox Valley Theatre Company will present the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical 'Green Day's American Idiot' this weekend and next at Elgin Community College's Blizzard Theater. Featuring songs from Green Day's 2024 'American Idiot' album and its 2009 release '21st Century Breakdown,' the show will be staged June 13-15 and June 20-22. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $18 for adults, $12 for students and seniors. According to the ECC Arts Center website, the production is not recommended for anyone under age 16 because of strong language, adult themes, sexual situations and simulated drug use. For more information or to purchase tickets, go to The 2025 Tuna Kahuna Fishing Derby will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, June 14, at the pond in Blackhawk Park, 35W003 Route 31, South Elgin. Free and open to children ages 15 and younger, the event offers prizes for the largest and smallest fish caught, according to the village's summer programming guide. Bait can be purchased, and concessions will be sold. Register at or onsite on the day of the derby starting at 8 a.m.
Fast Company
30-05-2025
- Business
- Fast Company
How TikTok turned horseshoeing into a viral career path
In between AI slop and viral dance trends, blacksmithing is quietly drawing audiences of millions on TikTok. One of the platform's most popular farriers, Samuel Wolfenden, has gained over a million followers on Instagram and 700,000 followers on TikTok since he posted his first video two years ago. 'I woke up the next day and had millions of millions of views; I had one hundred thousand followers,' Wolfenden told the New York Times in a recent interview. His oddly satisfying videos of hammering shoes on horse hooves have garnered Wolfenden a devoted following. 'Lucky horse,' one user commented beneath one of his videos. The attention has since landed Wolfenden sponsorship deals, modeling gigs, and a publicist, according to the Times. Wolfenden's not the only one cashing in on the demand. Farrier Sam Dracott's top three pinned videos on TikTok have a combined view count of over 630 million. 'It's so satisfying to watch,' one user commented beneath one of his videos. Dracott, who has four million followers on YouTube and TikTok, now employs an entourage, which includes a videographer, a social media manager, and a publicist. Due to his online presence, his income has doubled. TikTok leans into trades As well as pulling in millions of views, TikTok creators in the trades are also influencing career choices. This month, Skilled Careers Coalition (SCC) and SkillsUSA announced a partnership with TikTok to tap into the momentum, enlisting creators to produce exclusive content on trade careers like carpentry, construction, and HVAC contracting. This comes as 42% of Gen Z college grads now work in or are pursuing a blue-collar or skilled trade job, including 37% of those with a bachelor's degree, according to a survey published this month by Resume Builder. The main motivators: flexibility and a preference for hands-on work over desk jobs. When it comes to horseshoeing, having no prior experience with horses is simply a minor detail for eager students, lead instructor at the Pacific Coast Horseshoeing School in Plymouth, Calif., Amanda Smith, told the Times. 'It makes me wonder: How did you think of this? Because you never put a halter on a horse, and now you are thinking of putting shoes on their feet?' Smith said. 'I will have to admit, every time they come, my first thought is: 'Did you see one of those videos?''
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
CV-TEC hosts signing day: SkillsUSA signing days meant to emulate sports signing days but for trades and technical fields
PLATTSBURGH — CV-TEC celebrated the milestones of several North Country students with its first-ever SkillsUSA Signing Day. The event, held at the CV-TEC campus located on Military Turnpike, celebrated Career and Technical Education students who officially committed to careers in the skilled trades and technical fields they study. 'We are here today for a culminating event to showcase the students completing CTE programs and to recognize their capability, passion, and work ethic,' Sherry Snow, CV-TEC Student Services Coordinator, said. CVTEC invited families and partnered business and industry leaders to highlight the students dedication to building successful futures. Dozens of students stepped up to sign letters of intent with local businesses across a range of industries including agriculture, automotive, marine mechanics and health services. 'Today, students will be signing letters of intent—this marks the official start of their careers,' Snow said. SkillsUSA signing day events mirror traditional athletic signing ceremonies, but instead of college sports, it was careers that earned applause. Among the signees was Connor Cross, a graduating senior from Chazy Central who committed to a full-time position at Latremore's Pine Ridge Farm. 'I'm very proud—it's a family-owned business and I'm excited to be part of it,' he said. Cross will perform maintenance on equipment and trucks at the farm. 'Our business is quite thrilled to have Connor as a full-time employee,' Curtis Latremore said. Michael Botterbusch, a student from Schroon Lake Central, signed on with Schroon Lake Marina as a marine mechanic. Botterbusch will attend Yamaha University in Georgia to continue his technical training. 'My advice to anyone? Do it. There's so much more than just a four-year degree,' Botterbusch said. Employers and community leaders praised the students for their drive and potential. Earnie Galarza, Platform Director at Della Automotive Group, encouraged students to take advantage of any opportunity they get. 'I have one suggestion: do not waste it,' he said. 'There are very few times in life when the door is open and everyone inside is welcoming you in. Don't take that for granted.' Organized by the CV-TEC SkillsUSA Chapter, this inaugural signing day is part of a nationwide movement to recognize students entering high-demand, high-skill career paths. 'These students demonstrate not only dedication and excellence—but passion. I'm honored to celebrate them today,' Snow said. At CV-TEC, students don't just study careers, they live them and today, they signed on to take the next step.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
TikTok Looks To Help Connect Users With Skills-Based Career Opportunities
This story was originally published on Social Media Today. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Social Media Today newsletter. TikTok has announced a new collaboration with the Skilled Careers Coalition and SkillsUSA, which will help these organizations promote content that amplifies skilled careers across the app, in order to connect TikTok users with potential opportunities. As explained by TikTok: 'With a shared vision to elevate the skilled trades and meet the growing demand for skilled talent, Skilled Careers Coalition (SCC) and SkillsUSA today announced a strategic partnership with TikTok. The partnership will leverage Skilled Career Coalition's growing for youth, by youth platform, SKILLS JAM, which has helped amplify the excitement of skilled careers through entertaining short- and long-form content, and a growing wave of skilled trade creators on TikTok, who tell the behind-the-scenes stories of their work, share tips, and help educate others about their professions.' Essentially, the new partnership will see TikTok looking to assist in the promotion of skills-based content, aligning with the organizations' broader mission to guide younger audiences into relevant jobs. "Together, SCC and TikTok will be producing unique content that brings young people and TikTok skilled trade creators together as part of a series of local market workforce development events to be scheduled across the country, including at SkillsUSA's annual National Leadership & Skills Conference in Atlanta June 23-27, 2025." TikTok says that the collaboration reinforces TikTok as "the go-to destination for career exploration and inspiration," while also highlighting how creators can influence students' interest in trade school and, apprenticeships. And that might seem like a stretch, that TikTok is becoming 'the go-to destination for career exploration and inspiration.' But it certainly is gaining traction as a key guide, for many elements, which does include career discovery. Indeed, according to a recent study by Zety, 92% of Gen Z users trust TikTok for career advice, while 46% of Gen Zs have been able to secure a job or internship through the app. In a more direct sense, TikTok says that more than 28 million Americans are now employed by businesses 'that leverage TikTok's features.' This has been part of the platform's appeal to U.S. regulators to avoid a ban, highlighting the platform's direct economic impact, and there is something to be said for the power that the app now has as a direct driver of business. Given this, and TikTok's overall popularity with younger audiences, the partnership with SkillsUSA makes sense, and could end up facilitating valuable connections for many users. You can learn more about the TikTok, Skilled Careers Coalition (SCC) and SkillsUSA partnership here. Recommended Reading TikTok Highlights Female Creators and Brands for International Women's Day
