Tennessee College of Applied Technology Pulaski named a National Model of Success by SkillsUSA

SkillsUSA has named the Tennessee College of Applied Technology Pulaski one of 24 National Models of Excellence across the nation for 2022. The annual program recognizes the exceptional integration of personal, workplace and technical skills into SkillsUSA chapter activities.

This is the highest honor bestowed on chapters by SkillsUSA, one of the largest national student organizations for career and technical education.

The focus of Models of Excellence is student-led activation. Students learn and practice the skills that every employer seeks, including leadership, initiative, communication, teamwork and problem solving by taking the lead on all SkillsUSA activities. Their SkillsUSA instructors take the education of these students to the next level by guiding them, but never doing the work for them, elevating learning from classroom instruction to successful application of skills.

“Our Models of Excellence represent the very best in SkillsUSA chapter achievement and community involvement,” said Chelle Travis, executive director of SkillsUSA. “These students represent America’s future skilled workforce and are future leaders in their local communities. It is a tremendous honor for these chapters and the recognition validates these outstanding SkillsUSA programs and schools.”

TCAT Pulaski President Mike Whitehead congratulated the college’s students, faculty and staff for achieving the National Model of Excellence designation. “I am proud of them all. Among all high schools and colleges with SkillsUSA chapters across the nation, only 24 are selected for this honor.

"This is the third time since 2017 that TCAT Pulaski has been awarded this designation. This year, we were chosen for our project in the Technical Skills category – for building the stage, lighting and other work for a Friday night concert by country music artist Riley Green at the Middle Tennessee District Fair in Lawrenceburg last fall,” Whitehead said.

The 24 schools honored this year included community and technical colleges, high schools, and technical skills centers with SkillsUSA chapters.

The 24 SkillsUSA chapters selected as Models of Excellence will be evaluated in June at the SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference in Atlanta for top honors. A panel of judges will interview and evaluate each of these chapters based on their goals, student-led plan of action, results, evaluation and SkillsUSA Framework integration. Business and industry partners will conduct finalist interviews with students and advisors on June 22, a recognition dinner will be held June 23 and the top three schools will be recognized on June 24 during the SkillsUSA Awards Ceremony at State Farm Arena. The top three schools receive national recognition and the opportunity to share their stories through SkillsUSA in publications and trainings.

The complete list of Models of Excellence designees for 2022:

• Buckeye Hills Career Center (Ohio)
• Cambridge High School (Ga.)
• Cape Cod Tech (Mass.)
• Catawba Valley Community College (N.C.)
• Center for Advanced Technical Studies (S.C.)
• Cumberland County Technical Education Center (N.J.)
• Deming High School (N.M)
• Dorchester Career and Technology Center (Md.)
• Douglas High School (Ariz.)
• East High School (Wyo.)
• Gloucester County Institute of Technology (N.J.)
• Gordon Cooper Technology Center (Okla.)
• Greater Lowell Tech High (Mass.)
• Louisville High School (Neb.)
• Lynn Vocational Technical Institute (Mass.)
• New Madrid County R-I Technical Skills Center (Mo.)
• Niagara Career and Technical Center      (N.Y.)
• Putnam Career and Technical Center     (W.Va.)
• Tennessee College of Applied Tech-Pulaski (Tenn.)
• Upper Valley Career Center (Ohio)
• Valley Academy for Career and Technology Education (Ariz.)
• Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School (Mass.)
• Wiregrass Georgia Tech College (Ga.)
• Yuma High School (Ariz.)

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 provide tangible benchmarks for student achievement and chapter programming. Achievement is measured by 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.

About TCAT Pulaski

Tennessee College of Applied Technology Pulaski is one of 27 public Colleges of Applied Technology, along with 13 Community Colleges, comprising the College System of Tennessee, governed by the Tennessee Board of Regents. TCAT Pulaski has four satellite locations, in Loretto, Summertown and two in Lawrenceburg. The college offers career and technical education programs leading to technical certificates, diplomas and other credentials in Administrative Office Technology; Advanced Manufacturing; Building Construction Technology; CNC (Computerized Numerical Control) Machining Technology; Computer Operating Systems and Network Technology; Dental Assisting; Electrical and Plumbing Construction Technology; Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration; Industrial Electricity; Industrial Maintenance Technology; Patient Care Technology/Medical Assisting; Pharmacy Technology; Practical Nursing; Residential/Commercial Wiring and Plumbing, and Welding Technology.   

About SkillsUSA

SkillsUSA is a nonprofit partnership of education and industry founded in 1965 to strengthen our nation’s skilled workforce. Driven by employer demand, SkillsUSA helps students develop necessary personal and workplace skills along with technical skills grounded in academics. This SkillsUSA Framework empowers every student to succeed at work and in life, while helping to close the skills gap in which millions of positions go unfilled. Through SkillsUSA’s championships program and curricula, employers have long ensured schools are teaching relevant technical skills, and with SkillsUSA’s credentialing process, they can assess how ready potential employees are for the job. SkillsUSA has members nationwide in high schools, colleges and middle schools, covering over 130 trade, technical and skilled service occupations, and is recognized by the U.S. departments of Education and Labor as integral to career and technical education. We have served more than 14 million members since 1965. For more information: www.skillsusa.org.