CHATTANOOGA, TN -- Chattanooga State Community College’s TCAT was recognized for its dedication to technical excellence in April when it was named a SkillsUSA National Models of Excellence chapter.  

ChattState was one of 24 colleges across the nation to receive the recognition in 2024. This is the highest honor bestowed on chapters by SkillsUSA, the No. 1 workforce development organization working to empower students to become skilled professionals, career-ready leaders, and responsible community members. 

The Models of Excellence program promotes the intentional learning of Personal, Workplace, and Technical Skills as outlined in the SkillsUSA Framework for student development. Specific characteristics defined within each skill area benchmark student achievement and chapter programming.  

The hands-on approach of SkillsUSA actualizes its mission as students take the lead on all activities and practice the skills that employers seek including communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. Their SkillsUSA instructors guide them—but never do the work for them—elevating their learning from classroom instruction to the successful application of skills. 

Our SkillsUSA top 24 Models of Excellence schools represent the best in chapter achievement and community involvement,” said Chelle Travis, executive director of SkillsUSA. “These students are America’s future skilled workforce and future leaders in their local communities. It is a tremendous honor for these schools and their recognition validates these outstanding SkillsUSA programs.” 

Student members of ChattState’s SkillsUSA chapter will be interviewed in June at the SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference (NLSC) in Atlanta. Judges will evaluate each of the 24 chapters on their respective goals, student-led plan of action, results, final evaluation, and integration of the SkillsUSA framework. 

While all Models of Excellence chapters will be honored during the NLSC, three winners will be announced at the SkillsUSA Awards Session. The three winners will represent each of the three tenets of the SkillsUSA Framework: Personal Skills, Workplace Skills, and Technical Skills. 

The three victors will receive national recognition and the opportunity to share stories in SkillsUSA’s publications and trainings. 

College President Dr. Rebecca Ashford said the ChattState chapter of SkillsUSA was named a Model of Excellence chapter only because of the hard work of advisors and students. 

“The Chattanooga State TCAT chapter of SkillsUSA has a strong record of student engagement and achievement at the state and national competitions. Our students and their advisors have taken our chapter to even greater levels of achievement, and because of their hard work, SkillsUSA named them a Model of Excellence. I am incredibly proud of our students and their advisors, and I am grateful that their achievement has been recognized by SkillsUSA.” 

Bo Drake, vice president of ChattState’s TCAT and Economic and Workforce Division, said the recognition underscores the hard work of the college's staff to ensure students thrive after graduation. 

"At ChattState, we empower our students to become skilled professionals and responsible community members,” Drake said. “This honor reaffirms our commitment to providing hands-on learning experiences that give students the tools to succeed in their future careers." 

TCAT Dean Jessica Green said, “Being named a National Model of Excellence by SkillsUSA is a significant achievement for TCAT at ChattState. It reflects our dedication to providing students with comprehensive skill development and preparing them for success in their chosen fields. This recognition serves as inspiration for us to continue innovating and providing high-quality education that meets the needs of our students and industry partners.” 

The top 24 SkillsUSA Models of Excellence for 2024 include: 

Personal Skills 

• Cesar Chavez High School (California) 
• Cross Keys High School (Georgia) 
• Greater Lowell Technical High School (Massachusetts) 
• Kofa High School (Arizona) 
• Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES (New York) 
• Scott Regional Technology Center (Missouri) 
• Temple College (Texas) 
• Upper Valley Career Center (Ohio) 

Workplace Skills 

• Alliance Academy for Innovation (Georgia) 
• Center of Applied Technologies North (Maryland) 
• Dinuba High School (California) 
• Douglas High School (Arizona) 
• Gloucester County Institute of Technology (New Jersey) 
• Lynn Vocational Technical Institute (Massachusetts) 
• Norwalk High School (California) 
• Robert H. Gibson Technical School (New York) 

Technical Skills 

• Cape Cod Regional Technical High School (Massachusetts) 
• Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School (Massachusetts) 
• Morton High School (Illinois) 
• Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Chattanooga (Tennessee) 
• Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Pulaski (Tennessee) 
• Valley Academy for Career and Technology Education (Arizona) 
• Waverly-Shell Rock High School (Iowa) 
• Willow Canyon High School (Arizona)