STORM BLASTS CROSS KEYS SKILLSUSA
On August 18, STORM blasted into Lanier Technical Institute. Cross Keys High School SkillsUSA, formerly DeKalb High School of Technology North, was struck by the lightning of STORM as officers attended their sessions on, “Student Training for Officer Responsibilities and Management”. Cross Keys SkillsUSA Chapter Officers took shelter with their pads in hand as they rotated through four different sessions as a chapter group. During the quiet of STORM, officers acquired knowledge in how to conduct chapter meetings, developing their program of work, and implementing member recruitment activities. The thunder of STORM was loud and clear as officers worked in groups planning activities for the year. As STORM came to an end, officers were drenched with useful materials and ideas for a great kick-off for the school year. After a great STORM comes sunshine and growth, Cross Keys SkillsUSA officers learned the necessary duties and responsibilities to keep SkillsUSA Georgia forever growing. Take shelter, another STORM is coming your way. Be prepared, the lightning and thunder will bring valuable information.
 
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Best of Brand Online National Award Winner!
SkillsUSA Georgia received national recognition in the Best of Brand Competition. State associations from across the nation entered their websites into the contest and industry judges selected the winner based on the best use of the SkillsUSA brand image and showcasing of teachers and students as champions. This is the second year in a row that Georgia has been recognized on the national level. In 2008, Georgia received the Best of Brand Print Award for publications and programs that had been produced in the previous year. In addition to the Best of Brand Online Award, Georgia also received Honorable Mention this year in Best of Brand Print! Gayle Silvey accepted the award last week during the Annual State Directors’ Association Conference held in Charleston, South Carolina. Way to go SkillsUSA Georgia!
SkillsUSA Georgia members serve the Community
On Sunday, August 2 when most students are still enjoying the last moments of summer, SkillsUSA Georgia members were busily giving back to their community. Students from Miller Grove High School and Rockdale Career Academy joined forces at Georgia Public Broadcasting to work in a live broadcasting studio as a campaign was launched in support of programming. These students were able to connect what they have been learning in their local Broadcast Video Production labs to an actual business setting. Producers, directors, engineers and talent were on hand to answer questions and talk about the industry and how students can prepare themselves to be successful in the business. Not only did the students learn a great deal but they also felt empowered through serving their community and working together to create a positive outcome.
 
Members that served during the campaign included: Brenda Neely, teacher Miller Grove HS, Ann Connelly, Carlos Lara, Jarvione Crawford, and Dionte Jackson, students at Miller Grove HS and Raven Morris, Corey James and Brandon Williams, students from Rockdale Career Academy and Alumni Member, Ashley Hopkins from UGA. The group was also joined by Executive Director, Mike Nixon of the New Media Education Foundation of Georgia (NMEFGA) and his wife, Linda Nixon.
DHS student has "talent off the charts"
Published July 01, 2009 in The Daily Citizen
By
Jamie Jones
Rising Dalton High junior Yea Jee Bae holds her bronze medal for third place she won at the
National Leadership and Skills Conference as her graphics art teacher Nancy Hallsworth
holds a copy of Bae’s winning advertising design.
/ Matt Hamilton
The atmosphere Yea Jee Bae worked in during the advertising design skills competition at the National Leadership and Skills Conference last week was worlds away from the hustle and bustle of a real life ad agency. “They’re working in total silence,” said Nancy Hallsworth, Bae’s graphic arts teacher at Dalton High School, who accompanied her to the competition in Kansas City, Mo. “A typical ad agency has some noise, some music to foster the creative side. It (the competition) was a very large room with two other competitions going on-in total silence.”
After almost eight hours of hands-on work and written tests, Bae won third place in the advertising design skills category. A 16-year-old who will be a junior at Dalton High this fall, she vied against 42 other students, all of whom placed first in their state competitions. “I wasn’t really nervous,” Bae said. “This is something that I really love to do, so it doesn’t seem like work to me at all.” The conference was sponsored by SkillsUSA, a national nonprofit organization serving teachers and high school and college students who are preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service fields. For her strong showing Bae received a bronze medal, art supplies from Troxell Media and a scholarship.
Bae and Hallsworth were in Kansas City from June 21-26 for the 45th annual conference. There were 108 categories, including cabinetry, car repair, dental hygiene, geospatial technology, job interview, nail care and quiz bowl. Hallsworth said she wasn’t looking forward to missing a week of her summer vacation, but after seeing the quality of students at the competition she quickly changed her mind. While the national anthem was playing during the opening ceremony, Hallsworth said, “You could’ve heard a pin drop.” More than 5,400 students from all 50 states, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Washington, D.C., participated.
Her first project was to create a logo and package design for a fictional children’s energy drink called “roc • et” in just under five hours. The instructions? “It should make kids scream in the grocery store until their mom gives in and buys the stuff.” For the logo, Bae drew a rocket taking off with smoke billowing from the engines. The package design had a skateboarder in the center (which she drew using a wireless drawing pad) with lines emanating from behind him to convey motion. Her tag line was: “Fuel Your Fun.” The second project was reassembling a Tootsie Pop.
Despite placing second in the state in 2008 and first this year in advertising design, Bae didn’t expect to place so high at the national competition. She thought it would make for a good trial run to prepare for next year. Plus, there was an unexpected written test. When Bae’s name was called as the third place winner during the awards ceremony, both Bae and Hallsworth were shocked. But Hallsworth always had a feeling Bae would do well — just not so quickly.
“Something in my gut always told me she was special,” Hallsworth said. “She has talent off the charts. Many of my students do, but this one is pretty special. She’s a gift from above. Her skills, her ability, her attitude. She’s the kind of student that makes your job a joy.”
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