May 26, 2020   SOURCE: PR NewsWire

U.S. Presidential Scholars in Career and Technical Education Include SkillsUSA Members

LEESBURG, Va., May 26, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The U.S. Department of Education announced the 56th class of U.S. Presidential Scholars, which for the fourth year includes students in career and technical education (CTE) fields. SkillsUSA members receiving the award: 

    --  Jarod Harris of Seward, Neb., a student at Seward High School and
        SkillsUSA National High School Parliamentarian
    --  Daniel Marella of Cranston, R.I., a student at Cranston High School West
    --  Jake Okun, of Scottsdale, Ariz., a student at Desert Mountain High
        School
    --  Saviel Ortiz of Lawrence, Mass., a student at Greater Lawrence Regional
        Vo-Tech High School
    --  Elizabeth Ann Wozniak of Meriden, Conn., a student at Orville H. Platt
        High School

The White House Commission on Presidential Scholars honors scholars annually based on academic success, essays and school transcripts, as well as evidence of community service, leadership and demonstrated commitment to high ideals. In all, the U.S. Presidential Scholars program cited 161 high-school seniors on May 21 for their accomplishments in academics, the arts or CTE.

Created in 1964, the program has honored almost 7,600 of the nation's top-performing students, with the prestigious award given to honorees during an annual ceremony in Washington, D.C. In 2015, the program was expanded to recognize students who demonstrate accomplishment in CTE fields. To see a full list of the 2020 Presidential Scholars, go to: http://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/us-secretary-education-betsy-devos-names-161-students-2020-us-presidential-scholars.

About SkillsUSA
SkillsUSA is a nonprofit partnership of education and industry founded in 1965 to strengthen our nation's skilled workforce. Driven by employer demand, SkillsUSA helps students develop necessary personal and workplace skills along with technical skills grounded in academics. This SkillsUSA Framework empowers every student to succeed at work and in life, while helping to close the skills gap in which millions of positions go unfilled. Through SkillsUSA's championships program and curricula, employers have long ensured schools are teaching relevant technical skills, and with SkillsUSA's new credentialing process, they can now assess how ready potential employees are for the job. SkillsUSA has more than 372,000 annual paid members nationwide in high schools, colleges and middle schools, covering over 130 trade, technical and skilled service occupations, and is recognized by the U.S. departments of Education and Labor as integral to career and technical education. With the addition of our alumni, membership is 434,141. We have served nearly 14 million members since 1965. For more information: http://www.skillsusa.org.

SOURCE SkillsUSA