SkillsUSA is doing a lot more than students may realize here on campus; it’s preparing nearly 900 students to prepare for their future careers while building leadership skills, confidence, and real-world skills. They are doing this through Career Technical Education (CTE) classes. 

SkillsUSA co-advisor and teacher Nikki Ritchie says the program isn’t just another club. “It’s not extracurricular, it’s part of what we teach,” she says. SkillsUSA is built into CTE courses and focuses on what she calls the “17 essential elements,” which include teamwork, communication, and integrity. Ritchie says that these are not just “soft skills” but rather necessary for success in the real world.

Just this year alone, the school’s SkillsUSA chapter has grown to 897 members and saw a lot of success at the California State Leadership and Skills Conference. Some students brought home gold medals along with a national-level model of excellence award, or a silver medal for completing over 3,200 hours of community service. Ritchie says the chapter’s impact goes beyond awards. “It’s really about the camaraderies…Students realize

they have a voice and place,” she points out. 

Students like Jeshua Villarreal Silva, a Junior involved in the program and also a member of the state team, says he originally joined for “the fun experiences and the networking,” however, he has gained much more. Villarreal says he’s developed professionalism, responsibility, and a stronger work ethic. “We gave speeches and helped run the event from behind the scenes,” he said. 

However, Silva admits the program isn’t always easy to balance. As a tennis player, he said the biggest challenge was the time, commitment, sometimes missing practices, or even a week of school for events. Still, he says the experience was worth it, especially the connections he’s made. “All the little moments, going out to eat with the team…that was my favorite part,” he said.

Senior Kaithlyn Salazar shared a similar experience, even though she didn’t originally plan to join. “My teacher pushed me to try it, and I really fell in love with it,” she said. Since then, she has competed in community service events and now serves as a state officer.

Salazar says SkillsUSA helped her grow as a person, especially by pushing her out of her comfort zone. “I wasn’t really someone who liked to talk to people before,” she explained. “Now I’ve gained public speaking and leadership skills.” She also highlights the wide range of opportunities the class offers, noting that it includes everything from construction to educational pathways. 

An example of student-led work is her team’s “Chill and Play challenge,” a community service event designed to bring families together without phones. Projects like this are part of what led SkillsUSA to earn recognition at the state level. 

Despite different experiences, all three agreed that SkillsUSA can make a lasting impact. Ritchie describes it as “life-changing,” while both students recommend it to others looking to get ahead in their careers. 

“Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. You can really only benefit from it,” Salazar says to future students who are looking or thinking about joining.

Continuing to grow, strong competition results, and student success stories, SkillsUSA is proving to be a major focus on campus, which is preparing students not just for school but for their lives after graduation.