A number of students from Thomas Edison High School of Technology recently were recognized for their knowledge, skills and abilities at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Kansas City, Missouri.

Arina Kotlyarskaya (2002 graduate co-enrolled at Damascus High School) received a 2002 Paul E. Pentz True Leader Award. This $1000 award recognized exemplary service to her community, contributions to improving the image of her chosen occupation, and leadership within her SkillsUSA chapter. Kotlyarskaya will study printing management at Rochester Institute of Technology this fall.

The Health Knowledge Bowl Team earned 4th place in the country. Team members were Afua Tay, Latasha Peace, Maudlyn Etekochay (2002 graduates co-enrolled at Montgomery Blair High School), Thao Le (co-enrolled at John F. Kennedy High School) and alternate team member Renee Minor (co-enrolled at Montgomery Blair High School). Tay will study nursing at Georgetown University in the fall. Peace will attend Towson University this fall to study sports medicine. Etekochay will attend Towson to study nursing.

Other outstanding SkillsUSA participants include Jermaine Rhoden (2002 graduate co-enrolled in Albert Einstein High School) who was judged 7th in the country in the Food and Beverage Service Competition. Rhoden is currently employed at the Bethesda Marriott Suites and this fall will study hospitality services at Johnson and Wales University in Miami, Florida.

Jessica Brunson (co-enrolled at Gaithersburg High School) was elected student president of the Maryland Association of SkillsUSA this spring. She attended the conference as a voting delegate. Carlos Abreu (2002 graduate co-enrolled in Wheaton High School) participated in the Job Interview contest. He plans university studies in Portugal this fall.

SkillsUSA is the national organization for students in trade, industrial, technical and health occupations education. It sponsors the SkillsUSA Championships annually to recognize the achievements of vocational students and to encourage them to strive for excellence and pride in their chosen occupations. During the annual national-level Skills Championships, more than 4,000 students competed in 73 occupational and leadership skill areas.

The contests are planned by technical committees made up of representatives of labor and management and are designed to test the skills needed for a successful entry-level performance in given occupational fields. Contests are run with the help of industry, trade associations, and labor organizations, and these industry representatives set test competencies.

For more information, contact:

Bob Leyshon
Thomas Edison High School of Technology
301-929-2175