SkillsUSA | Georgia Postsecondary About Us

 

 

 

"Without SkillsUSA I would not have achieved as much as I have at my school."


“The opportunities that are available through SkillsUSA Georgia Postsecondary are simply amazing. In my two years as a SkillsUSA member I have been able to compete in my skill area; Design Media Production Technology, I have networked with industry professionals and met students like me from across the country. As a State Officer I had the opportunity to polish my professional and presentation skills. I have honed the soft skills that I will trade for a job in my industry some day very soon. On my own, I could not have afforded this individualized training I received as a member of SkillsUSA!"


-Davious J. "DJ" McClain

 


History of SkillsUSA Georgia Postsecondary

For many years secondary and postsecondary VICA were combined under the Georgia Department of Education. VICA Clubs operated separately in local schools and technical institutes but competitive events, like the U.S. Skill Olympics (now called SkillsUSA Championships), were held together with separate awards made to secondary and postsecondary students. The Quality Basic Education Act of 1985 created a separate Board for Postsecondary Education and a new Department of Technical and Adult Education (DTAE). The 1986 VICA year continued the combined efforts of educators from the secondary and postsecondary departments of education, but a number of postsecondary leaders like Mr. Alvin Wilbanks, then the Director of Gwinnett Technical Institute, envisioned a plan for a separate postsecondary VICA organization.

In 1986 Mr. William Alexander was assigned the responsibility of State Director of Georgia Postsecondary VICA and the task of organizing a separate U.S. Skill Olympics. Dr. John Scott from the University of Georgia, who had many years of leadership in training teachers to be VICA advisors, was asked to assist him in conducting a separate Skills competition at Gwinnett Technical Institute. Dr. Scott, with support from the University of Georgia, volunteered to assist Mr. Alexander the first year at no cost to the new Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education (DTAE). As a result of the combined efforts of Mr. Alexander, Dr. Scott, local institute advisors, industry partners, and faculty and the staff of Gwinnett Tech, the very first Georgia Postsecondary VICA Skills Olympics and State Conference, under the leadership of Mr. Alexander were held in May of 1987 at Gwinnett Technical Institute with a limited number of contests.

Mr. Alexander retired in 1995 and Mrs. Cassie Palmer of the DTAE assumed the responsibilities of the Postsecondary VICA Director. In 1997,Mrs. Teri Pope became the new Georgia Postsecondary State VICA Director with her first Skills USA Championships held at Macon Technical Institute. In 1998 Mrs. Julia Lewis assumed the role as Georgia Postsecondary SkillsUSA-VICA Director. In 1998 the Board of Direcors of National VICA changed the name of the organization from VICA to SkillsUSA-VICA that was be become effective July 4th, 1999. The official name of SkillsUSA-VICA changed again on September 1st, 2004 to SkillsUSA. In 2008 Julia Lewis left the job as state director and was replaced with Cassie Palmer who served as the State DIrector until she retired in August of 2012. Mrs. Amy Holloway was named the new State Director of SkillsUSA Georgia Postsecondary in August of 2012.


Future of SkillsUSA Georgia Postsecondary

As of 2015, the NLSC will be held in Louisville, Kentucky for six years. The new location was decided by a competitive bid among 25 other cities which included Orlando, Houston, and Atlanta. The future attendance projections along with the contract with Kansas City set to expire in 2015 prompted the relocation. Louisville also has historical significance as it served as the home of SkillsUSA (called VICA at the time) from 1982 to 1984 and from 1991 to 1993. The SkillsUSA Championships is expected to bring in $12 million to Louisville's economy.

 

SkillsUSA Georgia Postsecondary   1800 Century Place  .  Atlanta, GA 30345  (404) 679-1685