Press Release

Media Advisory For More Information/To Volunteer: Alex Taddei Delta College SkillsUSA Advisor (209) 954-5239 ataddei@deltacollege.edu

01/16/2013
For Immediate Release

                       Delta College Hosts SkillsUSA Regional Competition, February 2
                                                          Seeks Volunteers!
             
                           Brenda Perez and Renata Zapara Took Home Gold in the "Promotional Board"
                                                  Category at Last Year's Skills USA National Championships
(Stockton)
For the 3rd year in a row, San Joaquin Delta College will host the SkillsUSA Region 5 Competition on Saturday, February 2. The proceedings start at 8 a.m. in Atherton Auditorium, with the day’s competitions taking place throughout the campus. The awards ceremony starts at 5 p.m. in Atherton. Admission is free, but Delta College seeks volunteers to help with this year’s event!

Anyone interested in volunteering for this year’s competition may contact Delta College Skills USA advisor, Alex Taddei: (209) 954-5239, or email: ataddei@deltacollege.edu.

SkillsUSA is a national nonprofit organization that partners with students, teachers and industry to ensure America has a skilled workforce. The goal is to help prepare students for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations. The organization has 13-thousand chapters with almost
15-thousand instructors and administrators as members. Statewide, there are over 3600 competitors in six regions. This year, Region 5 expects over 500 competitors, with 20 from Delta College. Winners from this year’s Region 5 Competition will advance to the State Championships in San Diego, April 4-7. Last year, 13 Delta College students advanced to the state championships, with six winning gold medals. The 2013 SkillsUSA National Championships will take place June 24-28 in Kansas City, Mo.

Delta College welding instructor and SkillsUSA advisor, Alex Taddei, says SkillsUSA competitions provide a student with a venue to display their proficiency in a competitive environment. “SkillsUSA helps students stay at the forefront of the latest technologies in their disciplines. To compete and earn an award in a SkillsUSA event is validation of an individual’s ability.” Alex emphasizes, “A SkillsUSA award is unquestionably a point of interest in a resume.”

The 2013 SkillsUSA National Championships will assemble the “best-of-the-best” competitors from all 50 states.  Last year, Delta College sent four competitors to the SkillsUSA National Championships in Kansas City. Delta’s team of Brenda Perez and Renata Zapara took home the gold in the “Promotional Board” category for post-secondary schools.

“As in the past, this is an all-volunteer event,” says Taddei. “It takes a tremendous amount of support from our students, colleagues and community to keep the competitions and ceremonies going smoothly. Last year’s support was outstanding! With the increase in competitors, the need for judges will be greater.”

A minimum of three judges are required for each skill cluster. “The call has gone out for additional judges in some of the categories,” adds Taddei. “Even if you don't feel that you’re a ‘subject matter’ expert, please give it some consideration. There are many opportunities to help - such as correcting written exams, observing hands-on testing, personal interviews, etc.  In addition, it's a great opportunity to see future skills leaders compete in their respective disciplines.”

This year, Delta’s Region 5 Competition seeks additional judges in these skill categories:

                                      *Advertising/Media Design                  *Firefighting                                     
                                      *Auto Service Technology                     *Health Occupation Skills                            
                                      *Community Service                               *Job Interview 
                                      *Commercial Baking/Culinary Arts     *Photography
                                      *Computer Repair                                     *Public Speaking
                                      *Criminal Justice                                        *Robotics
                                      *Drafting                                                       *Web Design

SkillsUSA event judges and volunteers will be provided with a continental breakfast and lunch. For more information or to volunteer, please contact Alex Taddei at (209) 954-5239, ataddei@deltacollege.edu, or electronics instructor Sergio Calderon, (209) 954-6072, scalderon@deltacollege.edu.

Alex Taddei finishes enthusiastically, “This event continues to grow every year. I’m amazed how motivational and life changing SkillsUSA competitions are for our students. They always remember this positive experience during their years at Delta College. See you at SkillsUSA on February 2. Help our students become the best they can be!”


            Delta College Students attend last year's SkillsUSA State Championships in San Diego.


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