Cherokee HS' Career, Technical Program Earns State Recognition

From Cherokee HS: The school’s SkillsUSA team recently competed at the SkillsUSA State Skills and Leadership Conference at the Georgia International Convention Center in a variety of skilled trades and leadership contests in areas including: Welding Sculpture, Diesel Technology, Job Demonstration, Automotive Collision Repair, Medical Math, Automotive Brakes, Early Childhood and Nurse Assisting.

Freshman Austin Ledbetter, in his first time competing at State, won Silver in collision repair and earned more than $12,000 in scholarships and tools. Payton Hodges won Silver in Medical Math for his second year of State placement, and Edith Loarca earned Bronze in Nurse Assisting, also her second consecutive State win.

SkillsUSA is a national nonprofit organization serving teachers and high school and college students who are preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations, including automotive, welding, construction and health occupations.

The school’s SkillsUSA chapter earned recognition as a Silver Chapter of Distinction for its outstanding service to students and the community. Automotive program teacher Mike Hagan is the Chapter’s advisor, and Edith Loarca is its student President. Representatives from the Cherokee Child Advocacy Council, with which the Chapter partners to produce displays for its Holiday Lights of Hope fundraiser, also attended the recognition ceremony.

Photos courtesy of Cherokee HS (Celebrating their State wins are, from left to right, Payton Hodges, Silver in Medical Math; Edith Loarca, Bronze in Nurse Assisting; and Austin Ledbetter, Silver in Collision Repair. Celebrating the Chapter of Excellence recognition are, from left to right, Chapter Advisor teacher Mike Hagan; Mark Lallathin and Dave Pitts of the Cherokee Child Advocacy Council Board of Directors, which the Chapter partners with to produce displays for its Holiday Lights of Hope fundraiser; Chapter President Edith Loarca; Assistant Principal Meagan Biello, who oversees the school’s career and technical programs; and Chapter Treasurer Wes Veniskey.)