On February 6, 2025, JCPS Academies of Louisville students competed in the SkillsUSA Regional Competition, demonstrating the power of Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs) in preparing students for future success. The event, held at Pleasure Ridge Park High School, brought together talented students from PRP, Jeffersontown, and Fern Creek High Schools to compete in various technical and creative fields.

CTSOs: Driving Career Readiness

CTSOs play a crucial role in the Academies of Louisville's mission to provide students with "diploma plus" experiences. These organizations–such as SkillsUSA, DECA, HOSA, TSA, and FBLA–offer students opportunities to develop leadership skills, gain technical expertise, acquire real-world experience, build professional networks, and compete in industry-specific challenges, all aligning closely with their chosen career pathways.

SkillsUSA, in particular, focuses on preparing students for careers in trade, technical, and skilled service occupations. Lauren Duffy, a student involved in the competition, emphasized the importance of these events, stating, "This showcases actual skill and professional work." The alignment between CTSOs and the Academies of Louisville's goals is clear, as both aim to bridge the gap between classroom learning and industry demands.

Diverse Competition Categories

The SkillsUSA Regional Competition featured a wide array of categories, including:

Computer-Aided Drafting (CAD)
Photography
Advertising
TV/Video Production
Architectural Drafting

Each category challenged students to apply their skills in real-world scenarios, mirroring the demands of their potential future careers.

Spotlight on Select Events

In the photography category, students were tasked with creating uplifting designs using professional-grade equipment like the Nikon D3200. Competitors had to showcase their technical skills and artistic vision, with judges looking for images that could inspire and captivate viewers.

Graphic design students faced a creative challenge with the prompt "Go wild at the zoo." Given just three hours to complete their designs, participants had to demonstrate both technical proficiency and creative problem-solving skills. The CAD competition required students to assemble a point marking device, testing their precision and technical drawing abilities.

Industry and Education Collaboration

A key feature of the SkillsUSA competition was the involvement of both educators and industry professionals as judges. This collaboration ensures that student work is evaluated not only on academic merit but also on its alignment with industry standards and expectations. Judges included professionals such as Emily Evans, Chief Photojournalist at WDRB, and Chad Kantlehner from Mammoth Creative Group, alongside experienced educators like Shelia Marable from PRP's Graphic Design program.

Celebrating Success

The competition concluded with an impressive showcase of student talent. Winners were announced in various categories, including:

Computer-Aided Drafting: Kyle Hunter (Jeffersontown)
Photography: Gareth Millwood (Fern Creek)
Advertising: Ting Chen (Fern Creek)
TV/Video Production: Itzel Robles Rosas and Jesse Cleaves (Fern Creek)
Architectural Drafting: Shyel Macaspac (PRP)

These achievements highlight the success of the Academies of Louisville in nurturing student talent and preparing them for future careers. Check out some of the students work.

The Bigger Picture

By integrating CTSOs like SkillsUSA into their curriculum, the Academies are providing students with invaluable experiences that go beyond traditional classroom learning. These events not only showcase student abilities but also foster connections with industry professionals, paving the way for future career opportunities.

As the Academies of Louisville continue to innovate and collaborate with industry partners, events like the SkillsUSA Regional Competition serve as powerful examples of how education can effectively prepare students for the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow's workforce.