Danvers Student Competes At National Leadership And Skills Conference

DANVERS, MA – Emma Murray of Essex Technical High in Danvers, Mass. was congratulated by Mike Rowe, executive producer and television host, at the national SkillsUSA competition today in Louisville, Ky., where she is competing in the CPS – Science, Technology & Career Pathways contest this week. The SkillsUSA Travel Scholarship, sponsored by the mikeroweWORKS Foundation, the Charles Koch Foundation, and Koch Industries, Inc., provided travel accommodations to the 2017 National Leadership and Skills Conference.

"The skills gap is not only real, it’s a reflection of what we value," said Mike Rowe, CEO of mikeroweWORKS Foundation. "To close the gap, we need to change the way the country feels about work. My foundation supports SkillsUSA because it celebrates the kind of skills that are actually in demand. Through excellence and competition, SkillsUSA encourages real-world training, and in the process, lays the foundation for thousands of careers in skilled trades. SkillsUSA works."

Travel scholarships were awarded to SkillsUSA members who placed first in their state’s SkillsUSA Championships that needed financial assistance to cover their travel expenses to the conference.

"By helping the SkillsUSA Travel Scholarship recipients overcome barriers to success, we hope these competitors can recognize the dignity of hard work and find fulfillment within the impressive work they do," said Brennan Brown, director of educational partnerships at the Charles Koch Foundation. "The Charles Koch Foundation appreciates and supports these students who continue to challenge the status quo by developing their unique talents and abilities that will one day move our society towards a greater future for all."

Funds for the SkillsUSA Travel Scholarship Program were provided by the mikeroweWORKS Foundation, the Charles Koch Foundation, and Koch Industries, Inc.

Attached Photo Caption: Emma Murray shakes hands with Mike Rowe at Scholarship Luncheon on Tuesday, June 20, before the national competition begins.

Image via SkillsUSA