SkillsUSA, CTE program at Colony High School highlighted during school board meeting

February is Career and Technical Education Month, and students from the Colony High School (CHS) various Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs highlighted the impact the SkillsUSA has had during the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District (MSBSD) school board meeting on February 19, 2025.

Trish Zugg, Program Administrator for CTE for the MSBSD told the school board that it’s a very exciting week as she is visiting various CTE programs throughout the district, along with colleagues from Juneau, who have said that the CTE programs here in the Mat-Su serve as a model for other districts to follow.

She also brought attention to SkillsUSA, previously called the Vocational Industrial Clubs of America “It’s a very robust Career and Tech Ed student organization.”

Several students from the Welding program and SkillsUSA at Colony High stopped by to share the successes they have had as they prepare for state competition and upcoming state conference next month in Anchorage.

“SkillsUSA focuses on trades and empowering students to learn their trades,” said Gavyn Menashe, technical drafting student from CHS and SkillsUSA student State President. Menashe reported that as part of her duties, she attended the CTE conference last year, presenting to teachers, administrators, and skill industry professionals from across the state. “We spoke about what SkillsUSA is and broadening our horizons so that we can get more people attend the state conference in March.” She said that they are also reaching out to people from Kodiak to Utqiavik to build more interest in attending the conference. “We’re going to be having a bunch of people compete, and we’re going to be showing all the things, from technical drafting, welding, marine technology, and automotive service technology as some of our guild competitions.” She said that they will also explore leadership skills such as professional dress and speech.

Menashe explained that she got involved in SkillsUSA when she joined the technical drafting class at CHS, saying she enjoyed working with measurements, as well as drawing and working on the computer. “When I heard about SkillsUSA and that I can compete in competitions, I instantly signed up for it.”

She has big plans for the future, including attending Purdue University to become a motor sports engineer and working on race cars to develop new race car technology. “SkillsUSA has taught me a lot of valuable skills to be able to do that, and it’s just helped me empower a lot of that.”

Paxson Trotter told the board about his experiences in Skills Welding Sculpture competition last year, in which he created a metal 3D fish, winning first place, as well as placing first in the Structural competition last year.

“Skills has helped me with getting certifications and different job offers,” he said. “It also helps with community service.”

Trotter said he plans to enter both competitions again this year, ad after he graduates, he hopes to do both plumbing and welding.

Boston Wieland, a second year welding student, told the school board he too competed last year, building a tractor and earning third place in the main competition. “It was a good experience, going and competing against other schools…just seeing what I have to compete against.” He told the board that he got a job working in the commercial fishing industry in Bristol Bay over the summer, doing some welding on a boat, something he described as “kind of a big deal. Not a lot of people get to do that.”

Wieland told the board that he also plans to pursue welding and plumbing after he graduates, hopefully becoming a journeyman and moving up from there.

“Most of you have jobs lined up, and I’m so impressed,” said MSBSD board President Kathy McCollum.