By SHANEE WARDEN
City Times

San Diego Community College District has shown interest in beginning campus chapters of the SkillsUSA organization.

The student club would help students develop leadership and teamwork skills which will help mold them to be world-class-working citizens.

The members would do volunteer work and community service in addition to working with local high schools which are also involved in the SkillsUSA organization as well.

However, the club is yet unable to start at City College due to a low student turnout at the first meeting, which was held on Oct. 19.

City College would need six students interested in SkillsUSA to establish a campus chapter.

Joe Young and Mark Dinger are in charge of organizing SkillsUSA clubs for the district. They are both Assistant Professors of Automotive Technology at Miramar College.

Regarding the benefits of the SkillsUSA program, Young said, “I feel that this is a good opportunity for the students. to have a way to showcase themselves. Not all students are going to transfer to a four year program. This gives them a way to network, make industry contacts.”

According to the City College Inter-Club Council, if the students do not show interest, then the club runs the high risk of not existing on City campus.

“SkillsUSA California is dedicated to helping its members develop solid technical…employability skills. In addition, it supports and rewards the efforts of its members…” said the California SkillsUSA website, www.casusa.org.

The club also has $1 million available in scholarship money for its students.

SkillsUSA is a non-profit organization which has chapters located nationwide. Throughout the year, a variety or training seminars, board meetings and conferences are offered.

To find out more about the SkillsUSA club and their upcoming meeting, contact Joe Young at (619) 388-7672.