CHATTANOOGA –College academic work can lead to job skills. Volunteer State Community College students had an opportunity recently to show off those skills at the statewide SkillsUSA competition in Chattanooga. Vol State students scored top honors in four categories and placed in several others.
SkillsUSA is an organization that provides educational events, competitions, and programs that support technical and career education across America. The competition also connected students with businesses that need skilled workers.
“Several of our students made contacts that could lead to careers upon graduation,” said Tim Dean, Vol State Mechatronics faculty member. “I had more than one employer comment to me that they were quite impressed with not only the technical skills of the students, but also the professionalism that they demonstrated.”
“We are excited that our students have such a broad spectrum of areas of expertise,” said Cindy Thrasher, assistant professor of communication. “They competed not only in technical areas, but also in Leadership areas like Public Speaking and Interviewing.”
The Gold medalists will go on to compete in the national SkillsUSA competition in Louisville in June.
About Vol State
Volunteer State Community College has more than 100 areas of study and offers two-year degrees, certificates and paths to university transfer. Workforce Development extends the college mission to the entire community. For more information, visit volstate.edu. The College System of Tennessee, governed by the Tennessee Board of Regents, is the state’s largest public higher education system, with 13 community colleges, 27 colleges of applied technology and the online TN eCampus, serving more than 100,000 students.
