Lake Cumberland SkillsUSA Club

“I believe in fair play.” “I believe in education.” “I believe satisfaction is achieved by good work.” These three statements are half of the SkillsUSA creed. These three statements have been instilled in the members of SkillsUSA at Lake Cumberland Area Technology Center. During the week of April 5-8, six students (including myself) competed at the SkillsUSA Kentucky State Leadership and Skills Conference in Louisville. All six students came home with a medal.

Jacquita Antle, a junior, competed in a leadership contest of Prepared Speech. Jacquita’s speech was about “Respecting All Perspectives” as SkillsUSA and the workforce are both becoming very diverse. Her speech was very well prepared as she came home with a silver medal. Jacquita is enrolled in the Machine Tool program and co-ops at Bruss.

Lyndsey Ayers, a junior, competed in the skill side of competition as she competed in CNC Milling. Lyndsey put in extra hours of training in the afternoon practicing for this competition. Her practicing paid off as she came home with a silver medal. She is also enrolled in the Machine Tool program.

Jacob Burton, a junior from Adair County, competed in CNC Turning. Jacob took the initiative to learn how to program the machine back in November and said that he would love to make it Nationals. Jacob came home with a gold medal and will now be competing at Nationals during June 20-25 in Kansas City, MO.

A senior team composed of Justin Gilpatrick and Barry Voils done a great job as well. They competed in Robotics as they are students in the Industrial Maintenance program. Justin and Barry came home with a silver medal for their contest.

Matthew Cape also competed in a leadership contest: 3D Printing and Design. Matthew, a senior, had to come up with a design and make it out of plastic. Matthew came home with a silver medal.

Please congratulate the students above as they put in hard work and a lot of practice to be able to come home with a medal. Everyone who competed in our local and regional contests are all “Champions At Work.”

We would like to say congratulations to the following students as they are our regional winners for 2011.

Carpentry I:

3rd: Luke Penick

2nd: Keith Murrell

Residential Wiring: 3rd: Luke Mann

Welding Fabrication: 3rd: Jacob Cook, Janson Turner, Ethan Pelly

Extemporaneous Writing: 3rd: Zakary Rodgers

Job Skills Demo A: 3rd: Matthew Ryan

Carpentry: 2nd: Michael Causey

The following people are going to State Conference, April 5-8, in Louisville.

Prepared Speech: 2nd: Jacquita Antle

Job Skills Demo A: 1st: Jacob Blakey

Industrial Motor Control: 1st: Jadin Stapp

Robotics And Automation: 1st: Justin Gilpatrick and Barry Voils

CNC Turning: 1st: Jacob Burton

CNC Milling: 1st: Lyndsey Ayers

3D Printing And Design: 1st: Matthew Cape

A big “Thank You” to all the advisors for helping the students learn their trade well and helping them perfect their skills in the competition.

A big CONGRATULATIONS are sent out to every competitor at Regional level as you took on the challenge of competing to continue growing and becoming a “Champion At Work!”

No, that is NOT an April Fool’s Joke; we are planning a SkillsUSA Activity Day for Friday, April 1. On this day, we will enjoy pizza and doughnuts as we celebrate the great organization called, SkillsUSA! Hope to see you there!

This Friday, October 1, we will have our first SkillsUSA Activity Day.  If you have not paid your dues, you can not participate in this event as this is for SkillsUSA members ONLY.  Therefore, you can pay your $10.00 dues to any Lake Cumberland ATC SkillsUSA teacher to where you can participate in this event.

We also wish you a safe Fall Break!

As we start back this school year, please don’t forget about SkillsUSA.

If you want to join, the club fee is $10.00 and can be paid to Mr. Nokes or any of the Lake Cumberland ATC teachers. Please pay your dues as soon as possible! 

If you want to apply to be a club officer, you must be a paid member and fill out the application. Deadline to file is August 19. Also, if you would like to be nominiated for the SkillsUSA Homecoming Candidate, please tell Mr. Nokes by Augst 19.

Here at Lake Cumberland, we wish you a good school year and wish you the best of luck as we will start competitions very soon!

Have A Great Year!

SkillsUSA Week is celebrated the second week of February each year.

The dates for the 2010 SkillsUSA Week are February 7 to 13.

SkillsUSA Week gives state associations, advisors and student members the opportunity to promote SkillsUSA programs at activities at the local and state levels.

Throughout this week, try to tell anyone you can about SkillsUSA, the club that you belong with. Anyone who goes to Lake Cumberland Technical Center knows that SkillsUSA allows everyone to be  a part of something bigger, a club that allows you to show people anywhere from welding skills to speaking skills.

Governor Beshear has even proclaimed February 7-13 as SkillsUSA Kentucky Week. For more information on SkillsUSA see any of the officers or see advisor Rodney Nokes.

         “Transforming Education in Kentucky” (TEK) is the title of Governor Steve Beshear’s new initiative. On November 12, 2009, Governor Beshear spoke at the Russell County Auditorium Center speaking about the mission of continuing KERA, the education project started two decades ago. Governor Beshear also told six points that he would like to introduce into the classroom. One of the topics was to improve academics in the Kentucky Tech (vocational school) centers. What does this mean for Lake Cumberland Area Technology Center?

            First of all this means that Kentucky Tech Centers would get more programs in their centers. With the growing programs, tech centers across the state would grow; help students enter into jobs as soon as graduation, and also help the centers introduce life skills to more students.

            Myles Daffron was asked what he thought of improving academic positions in the Kentucky Tech Centers, he simply answered, “It would be a beneficial to all.”

            Governor Beshear seemed very interested in the wellbeing of all students considering he made up this task force to travel around Kentucky. With the interest of all students, Governor Beshear said that the main focus of this task force is to reenergize schools for technology of the 21^st Century. Many people thought this was great. Many [regular] schools get 21^st Century technologies in their classroom; however, the Kentucky Centers would get a boost from their ideas of what we need.

            Following the speech from Governor Beshear, the Lake Cumberland Skills chapter met Mr. Beshear at a project that the Lake Cumberland Area Technology Center completed. This project was made from all the programs offered from the Lake Cumberland Area Technology Center which was a cardboard baler. This is used to raise awareness of a greener planet. Myles Daffron told Governor Beshear about the project as well as listening to his remarks. “It was an experience I will remember,” Myles said, “It was great.” He continued.

 Above (l to r):  Mike Kindred, OCTE deputy executive director; Linda Floyd, KY Tech area supervisor; J
eff Adams, KY Tech-Lake Cumberland principal; Nicholas York, SkillsUSA local parliamentarian;
Daniel Black, SkillsUSA vice-president; Myles Daffron, SkillsUSA president; Matthew Cape, SkillsUSA Kentucky state officer; Governor Steven Beshear,  Zach Sales, HOSA local president; Audra Beckman, HOSA historian;
Matthew Brown, SkillsUSA lcoal secretary; and Larisa Nelson, SkillsUSA treasurer.

   As far as meeting with the governor it will be a great day in the world of Kentucky Tech. Matthew Cape hopes that he implicates these programs into schools. In his words, “It will be a slow and long process.” Indeed, our recession was created over time, and we will get out of our recession in time.

Alright, Mighty Laker vocational students. Here are your 2009-2010 Lake Cumberland SkillsUSA officers.

President-Myles Daffron

Vice President-Daniel Black

Secretary-Matthew Brown

Treasurer-Larisa Nelson

Reporter-Lauren Johnson

Parlimentarian-Nicholas York

Lake Cumberland ATC is home to one organization that is proud to say they are “preparing for leadership in the world of work.” That’s right folk, SkillsUSA is what you are reading about.

SkillsUSA is off to a good start with officers elected, fundraising ideas floating in heads, and of course, getting kids interested in competitions in March.

SkillsUSA is one club that you SHOULD be a part of!