Maryland Career and Technology Organization Presents 39th Annual Skills Championship

[Howard Hartman]

For Immediate Release	May 3, 2012

Maryland Career and Technology Organization
Presents 39th Annual State Skills Championship

1000 SkillsUSA Maryland Students Representing 23 Counties and Baltimore City

Compete for State Recognition and Honors

BALTIMORE (April 23, 2011) – SkillsUSA Maryland students, teachers, administrators, and myriad business and industry partners are gearing-up for the organization’s annual State Leadership and Skills Championship, May 4-5, 2012. This exciting event will showcase Maryland’s best and brightest career and technology education (CTE) students as they compete for medals, prizes, scholarships, state recognition, and the chance to continue on to national and international competition.

Nationally, SkillsUSA serves more than 330,000 CTE student and professional members enrolled in trade, technical, and skilled-service occupations, including the allied health professions. There are 13,000 SkillsUSA chapters in high schools, trade and technical schools, and community colleges across the country.

SkillsUSA Maryland boasts a statewide membership of 5,100 students. These young men and women represent every Maryland school system. As many SkillsUSA members have started training for their chosen career paths in high school, future plans often include earning post-secondary credits, degrees and/or certifications at two and four-year colleges, technical schools and apprenticeship programs.

The hosts for this year’s event include the Center of Applied Technology North (CATN), Community College of Baltimore County Catonsville (CCBC), Stevenson University, Stratford University, UMBC, AACO Fire Department, AACO Community Television Channel 98, North County High School, Earlbeck Gases & Technologies and Printing Specialist Corporation.

State Championship activities will begin Friday, May 4 at 3 p.m. at the Conference Center at the Maritime Institute of Technology in Linthicum, and will include a Delegate Assembly and State Officer election. The following day students representing 70 different career, technical, health sciences and leadership areas will be competing in hands-on competitions at AACO Fire Training Academy, CCBC Catonsville, CATN, Stevenson University, Stratford University, UMBC, Channel 98, Earlbeck Gases & Technologies, North County High School and Printing Special Corporation. Winners will be recognized at a Saturday evening Awards Ceremony at the UMBC Field House. Doors open at 6 p.m.

For more information, please contact Charles Wallace, State Director, Maryland State Department of Education at 410-767-8872 or cwallace@msde.state.md.us.