Featured image: NACC students who will be going to nationals later this month.

By Staff Reports

RAINSVILLE, Ala.— The SkillsUSA chapter at Northeast Alabama Community College was recently named among the top 24 SkillsUSA chapters nationally as a “Model of Excellence” recipient. Models of Excellence is a national program that recognizes the exceptional integration and application of personal, workplace and technical skills for SkillsUSA chapter activities. This is one of the highest awards bestowed on chapters by SkillsUSA, one of the largest student organizations for career and technical education.

In a message to Dr. David Campbell, President of NACC, Mark Heinrich, Chancellor of the Alabama Community College System said, “I want to congratulate you and your team for a job very well done! Northeast Alabama Community College certainly distinguished itself in achieving a Models of Excellence Award. I am very proud of you and your faculty and staff for this recognition. Congratulations!”

Congratulations also came from Gene Dudley, Director of Career and Technical Education at the Alabama Community College System and from Alabama SkillsUSA Assistant State Director, Keith Andrews, who said, “Congratulations for your hard work. You are one of just a few schools in the nation to have placed in the Gold Chapter of Distinction category of the Chapter of Excellence Program, and just one of two colleges in the nation. Thanks again for all your efforts at the local, district, state, and national levels.”

Kelly Black, SkillsUSA sponsor at NACC said, "Our chapter worked throughout the year on numerous community service, professional development, and skilled training events as well as promoting CTE awareness at career expos and social events, so I was very proud for our members to receive this recognition for their hard work and efforts. We are thankful for the support from the NACC administration that make those events possible and look forward to participating in the Models of Excellence activities at the upcoming national conference."

"Congratulations are certainly in order to Ms. Black and our SkillsUSA students and faculty team for this accomplishment," stated NACC President Dr. David Campbell. “This is an achievement at the national level.  The college itself is committed academically and financially to permit our students to compete in any arena at the national level."

“The Models of Excellence program represents the very best in chapter achievement and community involvement,” said Timothy W. Lawrence, executive director of SkillsUSA. “The NACC chapter defines excellence across the board, serving as a model for other chapters to emulate in strengthening their local programs. Students impacted by a quality chapter represent our future workforce and reflect the future of the communities in which they reside. What a tremendous honor that validates this outstanding SkillsUSA program in your local community.”

All Models of Excellence chapters will participate in the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Louisville, KY, June 20-24. Activities include Models of Excellence finalist interviews, an awards dinner at the Kentucky Derby Museum, and recognition during the SkillsUSA Awards Ceremony in front of more than 12,000 students, instructors and business partners. The NACC chapter will receive a grant of $2,000 from program sponsor Lowe’s.

“This is the second year Lowe’s has sponsored this program, and we are honored to be part of it,” said Troy J. Dally, Lowe’s senior vice president of customer experience. “The students I have met are an amazing group. They possess the skills that every employer seeks including leadership, initiative, communication, teamwork, problem solving and many more. Equally as impressive are their teachers and advisors. They take the education of these students to the next level by moving it from classroom instruction to successful application and fulfillment.”

The Models of Excellence program promotes the intentional learning of personal, workplace and technical skills outlined in the SkillsUSA Framework for student development. Specific characteristics defined within each skill area help ensure tangible benchmarks for student achievement and chapter programming. Achievement is measured by the effectiveness of student efforts in implementing essential workplace skills including personal responsibility, integrity, work ethic and organization in chapter activities. The hands-on approach of this program actualizes the SkillsUSA mission of empowering members to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens.

SkillsUSA is a vital solution to the growing U.S. skills gap. This nonprofit partnership of students, instructors and industry ensures America has the skilled workforce it needs to stay competitive. Founded in 1965 and endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education, the association serves more than 300,000 member students and instructors each year in middle schools, high schools and colleges. This diverse talent pipeline covers 130 trade, technical and skilled service occupations, the majority STEM-related. More than 600 corporations, trade associations, businesses and labor unions actively support SkillsUSA at the national level. SkillsUSA programs are integrated into career and technical education through a framework of personal, workplace and technical skills grounded in academics. Local, state and national championships, designed and judged by industry, set relevant standards for career and technical education and provide needed recognition to its students. SkillsUSA also offers technical skill assessments and other workplace credentials. For more information, go to www.SkillsUSA.org.

For NACC information, go to www.nacc.edu or download the free App from the App Store or by going to www.naccmobile.com.