This will be my fourth National SkillsUSA conference that I will be attending in June, and I am just as excited about going this year, as I was 4 years ago.  Since joining the teaching staff at the Frederick County Career and Technology Center, I have been introduced to many different organizations, but there is nothing like the SkillsUSA student organization.  SkillsUSA allows students, teachers, and the community to comes together and prepare students to make an impact on the workforce of today.  When I started teaching Television and Multimedia at the Frederick Career and Technology Center, I was very impressed by the track record that the class had with SkillsUSA.  The TV / Multimedia class had won the Maryland State SkillsUSA competition and represented Maryland at the National contest every year since 2000.  The class had also recently won the Broadcast News competition, so I knew that I had large shoes to fill.

It was not long into my teaching career when students started to challenge me to make them better and wanted to compete at the national level.  Being a very competitive person, I took on the challenge and headed to my first National SkillsUSA convention with a TV Production team and a Broadcast News team.  To my surprise, both of my teams finished in the top 10 that year and the TV production team finished 2^nd in the nation, only losing by 1 point.  Since then, I have had teams place top 10 in TV Production and Broadcast News Production each year, and once again just missed the gold in TV production, when the post secondary team brought the silver medal back to Frederick.

People ask me, what does it take to make a winning team?  The support I get from our local SkillsUSA advisor lays the ground work for student success.  My students are motivated and challenge me each day with new ideas and thoughts on how to make things better.  With the leadership training and guidance my school provides, I have students at the top of their game.  "SkillsUSA and the Frederick County Career and Technology Center have given me the confidence I need to go out and speak in public and feel that I make an impact.  I have never felt more comfortable speaking.  I have spoken to middle school students, high school students, and business owners in the community about the Career and Technology Center and SkillsUSA, and made an impact", says Melissa Lagarde, a TV / Multimedia 2 student.    

Students in the broadcast and television area work as a team and rely on each other to succeed.  "We are only as strong as our weakest link, so we have to support and help each other whenever possible.  When someone on the team does not understand, we do our best to help them so the whole team benefits", says Drew Edwards, TV / Multimedia 1 student. 

Training and preparing for competing in a state and national competition is not easy.  For many students to win at the local level is a great accomplishment.  After winning the local competition, student move on to the regional and state levels.  Being a state champion and representing the state for most students is a dream come true.  A first year student, Tyler Bennett said, "I never thought I could win the State Competition.  Last year was the best year of my life, and going to Kansas City was just the icing on the cake." 

The National SkillsUSA competition can be broken down in two categories.   Both categories are very respectable, and students are very proud where they fall.  First the students that win the state competition and feel they have done their best.  These students are very proud and very excited, and will venture to the national competition to experience all the conference has to offer for them.   They will enjoy all the ceremonies and camaraderie that will be available throughout the week and make the most of the week, no matter where they place. These students should be very proud, as they are in the top 2% in the nation. 

The second groups of students going are those who are there for only one purpose, and that is to WIN.  The Broadcast News team practices up -to three times a week to make sure they are on the top of their game.  Two of the four members of the team attended the national conference last year and have an extreme desire to win this year.  "Last year we placed 10^th in the nation, and we were proud of it.  We learned a lot and this year with Mr. Frank's help, we have one goal in mind, and that is to win!" say Melissa Lagarde.  Derek Hink, who is returning to nationals for a second time says, "I was very overwhelmed last year, we have talked about this and are prepared this year for the competition and the stress.  I am very excited to go back and this year I am there to win."

Many people ask me, What is the commitment?  I have to say, everything.  My programs curriculum compliments the SkillsUSA competitions.  My students learn and prepare all year long with daily assignments.  Students are in class over 2 hours a day for 180 days a year for 2 years, so they get a lot of opportunities to develop and redefine skills.   Students really enjoy the time and resources they receive while at the Career and Technology Center and many students have returned to help with local judging support and financial report. 

Another major part of the commitment is the financial commitment.  Students, staff and the community are challenged each year with providing funding for students to compete at the local, state, and national level.  This year, I am taking 6 students and our cost will exceed $8,000.  Our local community takes pride in the students accomplishment and steps up to help cover the cost of these students to go to the national competition.

So why prepare students so hard and expect so much?  My class is a cross between a college class and the real world.  I expect the student to complete projects on time, treat others with respect, and interact with staff and the community.  Many students continue on to a post secondary school, 2-year college, 4 year college, or technology school.  Interacting and mentoring each student to bring out their full potential is feeling that cannot be topped.  When a student goes to a competition and feels they he or she have done the best they can, the experience makes us all winners.

Adam Frank received his Bachelors Degree from Frostburg State University in 1993 and went to work in Rockville for a local production company.  He has worked in the Television field his whole life as a cameraman, director, editor, and producer.  In 2000, he helped start a government channel in Frederick, Maryland and was responsible for creating and producing several shows and all of the programming.  Adam began teaching in 2006 at the Frederick County Career and Technology Center, and received his Master Degree in School Administration in 2008.  He really enjoys the teaching experience and the daily challenges that go along with it.  He strives to prepare his students to enter the workforce or continue on to post secondary options.