The SkillsUSA New Mexico Championships are competitive events that showcase the best career and technical education students in the state. The philosophy of the Championships is to reward students for excellence, to involve industry in directly evaluating student performance, and to keep training relevant to employers’ needs. SkillsUSA New Mexico state competitions begin in the classroom. Teachers design in-house contests based on technical standards designed by industry members and provided by the SkillsUSA New Mexico leadership team. Depending on the contest, the top 1-3 students from each classroom will move on to compete at the state level. The state gold medalist for each competition moves on to represent SkillsUSA New Mexico at the National Skills and Leadership Conference.

This year we had the opportunity to take students to compete in Carpentry, Chapter Display, and Basic Healthcare Skills.

Carpentry

Contestants frame walls using wood and/or steel studs, cut and install rafters, gable end overhangs, fascia board, and soffit installation, install sheathing and/or exterior siding, and trim. Demonstration of knowledge of stair construction is required. Contestants will be judged on accuracy, ability to read and interpret blueprints, workmanship, safety and the proper use of tools, equipment and materials.

Chapter display

The Chapter Display contest selects the outstanding promotional exhibit designed and constructed by SkillsUSA student members and other students at their school. The display is built around and articulates a common theme with subthemes that SkillsUSA establishes annually, as well as a focus on the SkillsUSA Framework. The final product should be an exhibit (display) that reveals how SkillsUSA student members enrolled in Career and Technical Education (CTE) are preparing for leadership in the world of work and will enter the workforce with the skills described in the SkillsUSA Framework.

Basic Healthcare Skills

Contestants will demonstrate their knowledge and ability to perform entry-level procedures or skills based on the following list of core standards: academic foundations, communication skills, career opportunity concepts and systems, employability and teamworking, ethical and legal issues and safety practices. Performance will be evaluated through various stations involving skills testing as well as written and verbal assessments. References: Diversified Health Occupations, Seventh Edition by Louise Simmers’ Thomson-Delmar Learning and National Health Care Foundation Standards.