IRMO – The Center for Advanced Technical Studies continues to gain national recognition, as its SkillsUSA chapter has once again been named a Model of Excellence—marking the sixth time in the past seven years the school has earned the distinction.
The honor places The Center among the top 24 SkillsUSA chapters in the nation out of more than 6,000 programs.
Two students from The Center will travel to Atlanta in early June to represent the chapter at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference, where they will compete for the top national title. They will be joined by more than two dozen classmates who recently earned state championships and will now compete on the national stage in their respective fields.
The Model of Excellence designation is the highest honor awarded by SkillsUSA. It recognizes chapters that successfully integrate personal, workplace and technical skills into student-led activities—skills that are critical for career readiness.
“We are extremely proud of our students and the time and effort they put into their programs,” said Lead Advisor Joseph Chapman. “Our continued success is rooted in a strong culture of community, career development and student growth. We’re excited to see what our students will accomplish at nationals this year.”
The SkillsUSA framework emphasizes hands-on learning and leadership development, with students taking the lead on projects while instructors serve as guides. Through this approach, students gain valuable experience in communication, teamwork and problem-solving—skills highly sought by employers.
All 24 Model of Excellence chapters will be evaluated during interviews at the national conference, with winners announced during the event.
SkillsUSA serves more than 400,000 students and educators nationwide, representing over 130 career and technical fields. Since its founding in 1965, the organization has supported more than 15 million members as they prepare for the workforce.
