Jefferson County Wins Regional SkillsUSA Competition

Staff Photo by Angie Stanley

Students from Jefferson County High School participated and won in the regional SkillsUSA competition over the weekend, at Northeast State University in Kingsport. They competed against 15 other schools in the region, and  this group of students will now go on to compete in Chattanooga in April at the state competition.

SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers, and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA helps each student excel, providing educational programs, events, and competitions that support career and technical education in the nation’s classrooms.

If the students place in the competition in Chattanooga, they will be eligible for thousands of dollars in scholarships. School Resource Officer Jim Potts said, “If nothing else, it’s a good time for fellowship; we always have a good time”.

John Cagle, vice principal over Vocation, stated, “Officer Potts does a great job with this department, and he has one of the highest pass ratings with the dual credits testing up at Walters State.  All education should head toward some kind of career. Even if they don’t go in to law enforcement, they all have a better understanding.”  All three of the students that competed in the CSI Competition do plan on going in to law enforcement.  Will Essary, Meghan Jones, and Annie Quarrels, who are all three sophomores, have only had 18 weeks of criminal justice, yet still came in third against teams of juniors and seniors.

The students who competed in the automotive competition, Dylan Carpenter, who placed second and Ty Hauck, who placed first, are both seniors, and also plan on continuing their career path through college and into the automotive industry.

Staff Photo by Angie Stanley