SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. Each year, students work hard to be the best in their field and to prepare for local, state and national SkillsUSA competitions. Chattanooga State produced winners within its technical chapter and college chapters.

Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) students representing the technical chapter returned home with two gold and five bronze medals.

Gold: Kristina Key - Welding Sculpture; Robyn Wyatt - Medical Assisting

Bronze: Rebekah Bailey, Elisabeth Dupee, Lydia Lehman – Career Pathways Showcase, Human Services; Silvia Reynoso - Esthetics; Alyssa Anderssen - Marine Service Technology

Chattanooga State Community College students who placed in the top nine finalist categories were Alejandro Olson – Computer Programming and Merisha Rogers – Medical Terminology, with Merisha advancing to win the silver medal.

Nick Saul, a TCAT Computer Support Technician student, finished fourth in the Information Technology Services category.

Faulty advisors who were instrumental in helping to prepare students for the 2021 SkillsUSA national competition included Cynthia Rutledge, Gregory Henderson, Elonia James, Ed Grun, Mike Mercer, Rex Weeks, and Ashley Thiers.

SkillsUSA is open to students enrolled in a Career and Technical Education (CTE) class, CTE program teachers, administrators and professionals. Members are empowered to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens by developing Framework skills that include personal, workplace and technical skills grounded in academics.