Woodland SkillsUSA team goes to nationals

WOODLAND — Woodland High School’s SkillsUSA team was recognized by the national nonprofit as one of 24 National Models of Excellence, the organization’s highest honor. Kimberly Miller, the team’s adviser and a career and technical education teacher at the school, was awarded National Advisor of the Year for Region 5, which includes 12 states and territories. Woodland’s SkillsUSA team recently competed at the regional level, placing first in the state and winning the Washington State Chapter of Distinction Gold Medal. “These students represent America’s future skilled workforce and are future leaders in their local communities,” Chelle Travis, executive director of SkillsUSA, said in the news release. A panel of judges at the national level will evaluate the 24 Models of Excellence in June to identify one chapter for top honors. Two Woodland students, Katelyn Paulson and Nansi Valenzuela, will represent the chapter and compete at nationals virtually, giving a presentation to industry professionals accompanied by national SkillsUSA personnel immediately followed by a period of interview questions.