BHS SkillUSA National Competition Team – (l-r, front) Chelsea Jensen; Katherine Wertenberger; Jennifer Mendoza; Taylor Dischinger; and Jerrod Barber. (l-r, row 2) Asher Bird; Kaylee Anderson; Molly Kitchens; Lindsay Fell, Graphic Design teacher and SkillsUSA Advisor; and Sam Morgan. (rear left) Michael Westbrook, A/V teacher and SkillsUSA Advisor.
Nine Bryant High School students participated in national competition, with many placing, and two of them proving they are #1 in their skill set. The SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference was held in Atlanta, Georgia on June 24-28, 2024. Asher Bird and Sam Morgan placed first in Audio/Radio Production.
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TV Production Team (l-r): Taylor Dischinger; Chelsea Jensen; Jerrod Barber; and Katherine Wertenberger.
Students who placed first in the state competition in April represented Arkansas in various Arts, A/V Technology and Communications competitions. Representing the TV Production program in Video News were Jerrod Barber, Taylor Dischinger, Chelsea Jensen and Katherine Wertenberger. From the Graphic Design program’s first qualifying national team, Kaylee Anderson competed in T-Shirt Design, Molly Kitchens participated in Pin Design, Jennifer Mendoza went as an observer.
Gold Medalists (l-r): Asher Bird and Sam Morgan.
The Gold medal in Audio/Radio Production for Bird and Morgan is the first for any Arkansas school in that category, since the competition began in 2005. Last year, Bird and Morgan received silver, the first medal for the state of Arkansas since 2013. The two worked over a three-day span to complete a three and half minute audio news report plus an online test prior to the event and a written test while in Atlanta.
“The first gold medal for the state of Arkansas and our Bryant students were the ones who made that happen is a moment I will never forget,” SkillsUSA adviser Michael Westbrook said.
Graphic Design – Pin Design: Molly Kitchens
SkillsUSA is an organization created to empower students to become skilled professionals, career-ready leaders and responsible community members. The National Leadership and Skills Conference provides an opportunity for students to connect with career-minded students and explore career opportunities across the nation in growing skilled demand markets.
“My students left feeling very inspired,” SkillsUSA adviser Lindsay Fell said. “I think the scope of the competition and the opportunities available at their fingertips at this event really resonated once they saw it in action at nationals.”
Fell is the Graphic Design teacher and Westbrook is the A/V Teacher at Bryant.
Graphic Design – T-shirt Design: Kaylee Anderson
“Our students work all year long for this moment to compete at the highest level,” Westbrook said. “I’m proud they stayed the course and continued to be focused on being good teammates and better students of their craft.”
SkillsUSA students will begin their work for the 2024-25 competition year in August and are looking forward to returning to nationals again in 2025.