Lovell SkillsUSA students compete at the national level in Georgia

After placing gold at the Wyoming SkillsUSA state convention, recent Lovell High School graduate Janemarie McKay and incoming senior Lilly Keele are currently competing at the National Leadership and Skills Conference (NLSC) in Atlanta, Georgia.

SkillsUSA is a career and technical organization that prepares students all over the world with workforce development skills and provides more than 100 competitions for career and technical education (CTE) students. Members build hands-on experience and apply them in competitions ranging from skilled trades to technical fields and leadership. Students that place first in their competition at the state level will qualify to compete nationally at NLSC against more than 50 competitors from other states and territories.

This last April, McKay placed first in the T-shirt design contest at the state level, qualifying her design to advance to the national level.

“Janie has medaled in this competition twice, so it was exciting for her to win and be able to attend nationals her senior year,” said business teacher and SkillsUSA advisor Jode Kraft. “T-shirt design requires graphic design skills and an understanding of the production process, as well as the ability to successfully communicate the design inspiration and process to the judges. Janemarie excels in all of these areas.”

McKay’s winning T-shirt was presented to every Wyoming competitor attending NSLC to be worn in representation of their state during the convention. McKay’s design will be going against every other state-winning design in the nation for her competition.

“I’ve really enjoyed seeing all the events on a larger scale,” said McKay at the end of her first day at the convention. “Getting to see all the T-shirts from different states and meeting the people who designed them has been a blast.” 

Keele competed in the Advertising Design event and placed first in the state to qualify her for the national convention, as well. 

“Advertising Design is a competition where students apply marketing and graphic design skills,” explained Kraft. “Lilly has taken every business class offered at LHS, as well as graphic design. She is very skilled in both areas and has medaled in Advertising Design in previous years.”

Keele’s competition will test technical skills and creative aptitude as though the competitors are working for an actual advertising agency.

“Things are so different on the national level. It really pushes you to work your hardest,” noted Keele at the end of her first day at NLSC.

This opportunity was made possible by funding provided by Georgia Pacific. 

“Georgia Pacific sponsors Lovell SkillsUSA,” said Kraft. “Their support allows our chapter to give back to the community through a variety of service projects such as the Angel Tree gifts. Their sponsorship also allows our members to attend the national convention.”

Results of NLSC will take place during their closing ceremony on Friday, June 5, at 2 p.m. Mountain Time and will be livestreamed from the NSLC website: https://www.nlsc.skillsusa.org/live-streaming.