Centralia High School students to attend SkillsUSA national conference

A selection of Centralia High School students will attend the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference next month following strong performances at the state level, according to a news release from Career and Technical Education (CTE) Director Carissa Folgner.

The national conference takes place June 1-5 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Attending students include members of the school's SkillsUSA safety teams, along with graduating senior Saryn Pelesky, who will conclude her term as a Washington state SkillsUSA officer during the national conference, according to the release.

"Serving as a SkillsUSA Washington state officer was an unforgettable experience," Pelesky said. "Spending the last year working with eight passionate, driven student leaders across the state to serve and lead 7,000 students in the state of Washington is truly something I can't put into words. Over the past year I have not only found my confidence but I inspire and give back my passion for SkillsUSA and all it has done to me, to our members."

Centralia's SkillsUSA team qualified for national competition in two events: the Occupational Health and Safety Single Team and the Occupational Health and Safety Multiple Team.

According to the release, the events evaluate students' understanding of workplace safety practices, hazard recognition, emergency response and effective teamwork.

Senior Owen Sharp will also attend the event to compete in the national welding competition.

"It is so much more than just me or one student or even Centralia High School; it's inspiring and preparing our future workplace professionals not only with the skills but the confidence and belief in themselves that was once poured into me and believed in me when I didn't believe in myself," Pelesky said.

The senior said she can "never thank enough" the high school's CTE staff and SkillsUSA advisers who supported her over the last three years - especially Mitch Smith, whom she said "welcomed me into the woodshop with no experience as well as the construction class my senior year," and "supported me and all of my crazy goals and dreams along the way."

"SkillsUSA was so much more than a club at my high school, a student organization, a competition, or workforce development; it helped shape who I am and find what path in the trades I want to take," Pelesky said. "And that it's OK and actually highly valuable as an emerging young adult and high school graduate to have all these technical skills instead of going to college like I always knew."

Pelesky added that she hopes her experience "can be the inspiration to other SkillsUSA Washington members and beginning of their chapters."

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