From February 22-24, Lambert’s SkillsUSA chapter attended their State Leadership and Skills Conference (SLSC) in Atlanta. This annual event connects numerous SkillsUSA (high and middle) school chapters across Georgia to participate in various career-oriented competitions, workshops and seminars. Lambert’s chapter took home two first-place and two second-place medals in competitions involving filmmaking and computer science.
”It went amazingly well,” Lambert’s Audio, Video Tech, & Film teacher and SkillsUSA’s Sponsor Dr. Hutchison said. “I feel very proud because this is my first year as a SkillsUSA advisor. I’m proud of my students who took the initiative that they were accountable for.”
SkillsUSA members and officers impressively demonstrated that initiative to motivate and guide oneself. One exciting example is how Lambert SkillsUSA’s Vice President, Annice Stephen, was elected to join SkillsUSA Georgia’s State Officer Team for the 2024-2025 school year, a highly sought-after position and distinguished recognition.
”The officers were truly self-sufficient this year,” Dr. Hutchison said. “They are the ones that put communications out to GroupMe, that call the membership meetings, that have everything in order; they run themselves. The officers of SkillsUSA are representing a student organization. That’s what CTSO stands for: Career, Tech, Student Organization.”
Although only nine of the twenty-eight who competed placed on their competition’s podium, the majority of the members were glad that they attended SLSC as it served as a great opportunity to network, learn about the industry they may want to pursue and further refine their skills of employability.
“It was a great, great experience,” Lambert junior and SkillsUSA Secretary Saif Hasan said. “We got to meet a lot of people and interact with other chapters across the state; it was just one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences that you’re never going to get back from when you’re in high school.”
Lambert senior Siera Johnson competed with three others in the category of Vlog and won first place in the state. This victory served as an answer for her to what she should pursue as her professional career, filmmaking.
“SkillsUSA’s SLSC did help me envision a future career in filmmaking because it let me do projects on a more professional level and submit my work for other people to see,” Siera said. “I think it’s my calling, and I definitely want to do it for the rest of life.”
For his first state trip, Lambert sophomore Jack Wei competed with two others in the category of Video News Production. Although he did not place for any awards, he is still glad he competed and attended SLSC for the learning experience and personal growth.
“I was definitely nervous, but I just went for it, and I’m proud of myself for going outside of my comfort zone and trying something different,” Jack said. “Learning how to go outside of your comfort zone makes you more attune to taking risks, and choosing to do stuff like that helps with your personal growth, and that can be important for anyone’s future.”
As Lambert SkillsUSA’s membership count increases over the coming years, it’s safe to say that future state trips will have many more attendees and, subsequently, more wins across multiple fields. Most SkillsUSA chapters in Georgia schools boast membership counts in the hundreds, showcasing many students in diverse professions, including agriculture, construction, barbering, STEM, marketing, dentistry, audio-video and much more. Such size and strength could be what Lambert High School’s SkillsUSA chapter will exhibit soon.
“I cannot wait to see what next year brings,” Dr. Hutchison said.
