Top Students from Salem High School Represent at SkillsUSA State Leadership and Skills Conference
Janay Newton, Yanalis Ventura named national voting delegates; will attend SkillsUSA national conference in Atlanta June 24-28
SALEM (May 1, 2024) – Junior Janay Newton and freshman Yanalis Ventura will become the first Salem High School students to serve as national noting delegates at the SkillsUSA national conference, highlighting SHS’s visit to the annual SkillsUSA State Leadership and Skills Conference, April 25-27 in Marlborough, Mass.
The SkillsUSA State Leadership and Skills Conference attracted the top 2,500 students enrolled in technical education programs from across the Commonwealth and serves as a platform for students to showcase skills and leadership ability, to foster camaraderie and compete among peers.
Ms. Newton and Ms. Ventura were among six students from SHS’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) program – along with junior Kaelyn Eaton and freshmen Enatu Hall, Kailyn Ricciarelli and Olivia Warren – who attended the Conference.
Ms. Newton, Chapter President of SkillsUSA at Salem High School, reflected on her experience at the conference, emphasizing the importance of student involvement and skill development.
“During my time at the SkillsUSA States Leadership and Skills Conference, I learned that I will always be a part of something great because it’s all about the students,” Ms. Newton said. “It is called a student organization for a reason. SkillsUSA is important because it builds relationships with leaders from other schools, encourages self-improvement while forming a tighter bond with my leadership group, and just having fun.
“SkillsUSA is not only about winning or losing in competitions but also about gaining new skills and better training for employment possibilities,” she added. “I am excited for myself and the other SHS chapter officers to continue building our SkillsUSA chapter as we pave the way for upcoming SHS leaders to attend these amazing conferences.”
Ms. Newton and Ms. Ventura will travel to the National Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta, Ga., June 24-28. The National SkillsUSA Delegate Program engages state-identified delegates to represent their respective state associations in introducing, debating, modifying, and voting upon delegate items that may include organization bylaws and the SkillsUSA national officer elections.
“Salem High School takes immense pride in its students’ achievements and remains committed to nurturing future leaders through initiatives like SkillsUSA,” said Mario Sousa, CTE Director and Coop Coordinator. “We’re thrilled that Janay and Yanalis will be representing SHS on a national level.”
The achievement is especially significant in its embodiment of the four core principles of the District’s 2023-26 Strategic Plan:
- Elevating education
- Empowering educators
- Centering belonging
- Strengthening our foundation
About SkillsUSA
SkillsUSA is a national nonprofit organization that serves students enrolled in career and technical education programs at high schools, colleges, and middle schools across the United States. Through hands-on experiences, competitions, and leadership development opportunities, SkillsUSA empowers students to become world-class workers, leaders, and responsible American citizens.
About Salem Public Schools
Salem Public Schools is an urban public school district in Salem, Massachusetts. Salem is a small, diverse city with a proud maritime and immigrant history. Our leaders and our teachers are all passionate about education and understand the urgency of improving student achievement with equity and social-emotional needs as the lens we view all of our work through. We respect and value the racial, cultural, and linguistic diversity of our students and their families, and have a strong commitment to the Salem community. Salem Public Schools staff serve all of our students, regardless of ability or language. Salem Public Schools enrolls approximately 4,000 students across its eleven schools.
