After winning district and state competitions, Natalia Yondura traveled to Atlanta this summer to compete against, and network with, students from all 50 states and four U.S. territories in this year’s national SkillsUSA competition. 

Her skills again proved her to be among the best, this time in the entire country. She won a gold medal, which she proudly accepted on a stage in front of a crowd of 15,000 people. 

How did Yondura gather the courage to get on stage in front of all those people? In part, because this remarkable young student had the benefit of being trained and supported by SkillsUSA Council, the only Council of its kind in the nation, which operates right here in the Lehigh Valley and seeks to build a better workforce by teaching students job readiness and employability skills.

“Our goals are to expand our reach so we can offer these opportunities to even more students, maintain and develop relevant programs that keep pace with emerging technologies, and support our industry partners' immediate and long-term hiring strategies so, together, we can grow the talent pipeline here in the Lehigh Valley,” said Andy Hammer, Executive Director of SkillsUSA Council District 11-Greater Lehigh Valley.

SkillsUSA Council goes far beyond organizing the annual District 11 SkillsUSA competition, which showcases the Greater Lehigh Valley’s most highly skilled career and technical students. Unlike other districts around the nation, SkillsUSA Council partners with industry leaders to fund year-long programming that supports the development of students’ personal and professional skills in addition to their technical skills.

On Oct. 16, SkillsUSA Council District 11 will hold its Annual Meeting and Awards Breakfast, to celebrate with its partners the impact the program has on helping students such as Yondura find their career paths.

SkillsUSA has a lot to celebrate.

• Professional Development Conference - About 175 students from Bethlehem Area Vocational Technical School (BAVTS), Career Institute of Technology (CIT), Lehigh Career & Technical Institute (LCTI), Monroe Career & Technical Institute (MCTI), and Upper Bucks County Technical School (UBCTS) spend two full days at Camelback Resort attending workshops on topics like interviewing, conflict resolution, and communication, among others. While practicing these skills, they network with peers and industry representatives, making connections that will benefit them for a lifetime.
• Business Tours - SkillsUSA Council arranges student tours of its business and industry partners, allowing students to learn more about career opportunities in the Lehigh Valley, understand the needs of employers, and practice their emerging personal and professional skills. The tours are also excellent networking opportunities, and SkillsUSA Council is always looking to form new partnerships with employers seeking to get involved with students.
• Signing Day - Modeled after signing day programs for students receiving athletic scholarships, this event celebrates more than 100 graduating students heading directly into the workforce; graduates attending colleges to pursue degrees and certificates related to their field; and those joining the military.
• Annual Meeting and Awards Breakfast - Students dine with industry partners, in yet another networking opportunity where industry professionals can meet and share their expertise with the next generation of leaders. At SkillsUSA Council’s upcoming Annual Meeting and Awards Breakfast, the organization will share its plans for future growth and feature a student speaker who will relate their experience with SkillsUSA Council. At the event, industry and community partners who support the council’s work in the Greater Lehigh Valley will be honored, including Don Cunningham, President and CEO of Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp. (LVEDC), who will receive the Leadership by Example award, and Susan Day, Cooperative Education Coordinator at CIT, who will receive the Torch of Knowledge award. The David Howard Volunteer of the Year Award will be bestowed upon a community member who has dedicated significant time and effort to the council’s endeavors. The Annual Meeting and Awards Breakfast will be held Oct. 16 from 7:45-9 a.m. at The Centennial Event Center at Homewood Suites in Center Valley. Register to attend here.

With the work that SkillsUSA is doing in the Greater Lehigh Valley, not every student who participates will win gold like Yondura, but they will start their careers with a solid technical foundation and the professional skills they need to succeed in the workplace.