Last week, there was a “Show Off Your Skills” finalist in San Benito … today, they are the grand prize winners!
The San Benito High School AV (Audio Visual) Production SkillsUSA Chapter 3152 was selected as one of five finalists in this year’s “Show Off Your Skills” nationwide challenge sponsored by Stanley Black & Decker — a Fortune 500 diversified global provider of hand tools, power tools and related accessories, electronic security solutions, healthcare solutions, engineered fastening systems and more.
Held in conjunction with the annual SkillsUSA National Week of Service, May 7-11, nearly 2,500 students and teachers nationwide participated by submitting 60-second videos promoting the personal, workplace and technical skills used in service to others.
The five finalists were selected by a panel of judges and the grand prize winner was to be selected via social media voting. As a finalist, the local AV Production chapter was guaranteed a grant of $4,000 with an opportunity to win the $10,000 grand prize.
Not only did the local SkillsUSA Chapter 3152 win the grand prize, the SkillsUSA Texas Association will also receive a grant of $2,500 courtesy of Stanley Black & Decker.
According to Joel Rodriguez, local Media Technology teacher and SkillsUSA Chapter 3152 Advisor, the Chapter was selected as a finalist for their video featuring their Digital Media Academy service initiative that showcased the skills of video editing, broadcast production and the film production process and in dedicated service to the community of San Benito, Texas.
During the Digital Media Academy, potential AV Production students, parents, and community members received a firsthand insight to the world of cinema, learned the editing basics of a tri-caster multi-camera production system, and reviewed the fundamental components of a camera and teleprompter. The highlight of the event was a “live” broadcast featuring interviews with community participants.
“Our students learned how to serve their community through the use of their knowledge and the state of the art equipment provided by the local Career and Technology Education program,” explained Rodriguez. “If additional opportunities arise for them to serve their community, they now have the experience and will do so without hesitation.”
Rodriguez added that Digital Media Academy participants of all ages and backgrounds loved the overview of the equipment and greatly enjoyed what they learned from the AV Production students.
“We had outstanding participation during the first ’Show Off Your Skills’ challenge. We estimate that more than 15,000 cumulative hours of service were performed in only one week by members in 36 states,” said Tim Lawrence, Executive Director of SkillsUSA.
“We are grateful for the generosity of Stanley Black & Decker in making this new initiative possible, and for their support of SkillsUSA’s purpose-driven mission centered on workforce development,” Lawrence added.
According to Stanley Black & Decker representatives, “This challenge and the mission of SkillsUSA aligns perfectly with our company motto, ’For Those Who Make the World™’. The opportunities provided to SkillsUSA members in terms of employability skills, service-oriented interaction, citizenship and community leadership is golden. We are honored to be part of it.”
The “Show Off Your Skills” challenge is an excellent example of how SkillsUSA’s learning-centric programs incorporate the SkillsUSA Framework of developing workplace, personal and technical skills grounded in academics.
SkillsUSA is a vital nonprofit partnership of students, instructors and industry that ensures America has the skilled workforce it needs to stay competitive. Endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education, the association serves more than 360,000 member students and instructors each year in middle schools, high schools and colleges.
SkillsUSA empowers its members to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens as it improves the quality of our nation’s future skilled workforce.
