Annual Skills USA competition coming to HutchCC

By Kat Collins
Staff Writer

The Skills USA Kansas conference is returning to Hutchinson Community College next week, from Wednesday to Friday.

There are a total of 84 categories contestants will be able to compete in, out of a total of 100 categories students can compete in nationally.

Among the categories are Culinary Arts, Firefighting, Computer Programming, Auto Body, Cosmetology and many more.

Skills USA is a way for students to perform in front of industry partners that the colleges have. It’s a way to get accustomed to working in front of employers and doing good things for the community.

Skills USA started as an organization in 1965. It was first called “The Vocational Industrial Clubs of America”, or VICA, and later in 2004 the name was officially changed to its current name.

John Pendergrass is charge Skills USA for HutchCC. He was asked about why should someone go into Skills USA, and he said, “In this competition is an opportunity to go out and preform what you’re already learning in the classroom in front of people who could possibly hire you later on.”

To learn more about Skills USA, or to join, contact Pendergrass through email at pendergrassj@hutchcc.edu or call (620) 694-2443.

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