State Competitions on February 2nd 
With more than 200 students competing, the recent state contests held at Ocean County Vo-Tech were a great success. The following students placed in the top three and will find out their ranking and receive their medals at the SkillsUSA Championships Awards Ceremony on May 3.

Commercial Baker's Aide
Mariah Fishman, Cape May
Rebecca Walsh, Sussex
Faye Johnson, Bergen/Hackensack
Richard Childers, OCVTS/Brick

Marine Service Technology
Jason Wending, Gloucester
Andrew Maat, Sussex
Ahmed Dakroury, OCVTS/Toms River
Josh Buchanan, OCVTS/Toms River
Eddie Chaplauske, OCVTS/Toms River

Motorcycle Service Technology
Mike Valentino, Gloucester
Justin Alpaugh, Somerset
Alfred Davenport, Sussex
William Wilderspin, OCVTS/Jackson

Photography
Michael Caroselli, Hudson Prep
Erick Bradley, Hudson Prep
Samantha Jasanovsky, Monmouth/Wall
Heather Jaskot, OCVTS/Brick
Nahjier Williams, OCVTS/Brick

Power Equipment Technology
Sean Spafford, Bergen Tech/Paramus
Jeremiah Stephenson, Somerset
Thomas Hynes, OCVTS/Brick

Here are some pictures from the Tech Prep Showcase competition.

 

Entrepreneurship Week
As part of New Jersey's Career and Technical Education Week activities, on Wednesday, February 27, 2008, the state hosted Entrepreneurship Day at the Department of Education. The day included presentations from outside parties along with exhibits from state entities involved with entrepreneurship activities. NJ SkillsUSA had an opportunity to discuss entrepreneurship activities that our organization conducts.

State Officers Jonathan Rodriguez and Robert Hlavaty in front of the NJ SkillsUSA display table.

State Officers Robert Hlavaty and Jonathan Rodriguez speaking to the audience about SkillsUSA.

State Officer Meeting
On February 27th, advisors from across the state gathered to register their students for the upcoming NJ SkillsUSA Championships in May. In addition, advisors had the opportunity to ask questions and find out about recent contest updates to the state staff.

State Officer Election 
Students interested in running for the NJ SkillsUSA State Officer Team can now download the necessary forms from the state website. Students are invited to attend the State Officer meeting on March 12th, at Somerset County Technical Schools. Advisors are strongly advised to contact JoAnn Vincenz in advanced of attendance.

Local Chapter News 
SkillsUSA Community Service students at the Cape May County Technical School recently organized a one-mile walk to benefit the Ronald McDonald House in Philadelphia, the group's service project for this school year. Staff and students participated and the group raised $300 to purchase a brick with the school's name on it in the new playroom at the Ronald McDonald House.

The students are still accepting cash donations to purchase items on the "House" wish list and also are collecting Acme receipts, items from the wish list, empty ink cartridges and soda tabs. The wish list is at posted online. See: www.philarmh.org

Donations can be dropped off at the high school main office, 188 Crest Haven Road, Cape May Court House. Call 465-2161, ext. 114.

Drive for Five Membership Campaign 
SkillsUSA has set a membership goal of reaching a record-breaking of 300,000 members. Upon reaching this historic milestone, SkillsUSA will have the largest membership since our founding in 1965. Membership is not just reaching a new number or an arbitrary goal-growth means the opportunity to create a larger and stronger voice for career and technical education as a whole in Washington, D.C. and all across the nation.

SkillsUSA is launching the campaign by sending a mailing to all 15,000 local chapters of SkillsUSA. To participate, each instructor will be invited to complete a Pledge Card stating that his or her school chapter or section will set a goal of adding five additional members over the previous school year. These five memberships may be paid student members or paid professional members, or any combination of the two. Pledge cards may be submitted by fax, by mail or online.

Please help SkillsUSA to reach this important milestone and be a champion for SkillsUSA! For more information, visit this link.