TCAT Henry/Carroll Prepares for SkillsUSA Competitions

The Tennessee College of Applied Technology Henry/Carroll is preparing to send a total of 35 contestants to the State SkillsUSA Competition in April at the Chattanooga Convention Center.

The main campus in Paris is sending 22 contestants and the McKenzie campus is sending 13 contestants.

The two campuses merged last fall to become one institution, TCAT Henry/Carroll. Both campuses have a rich history in SkillsUSA, winning medals at the state and national competitions. This will be the first year they are competing as one school in the April 13-16 event.

In addition to the large number of contestants, TCAT Henry/Carroll also has a state officer again this year. Tanner Ashlock, a Residential Building Maintenance student, is serving as the SkillsUSA Tennessee Postsecondary Treasurer, and he will be on stage both for the opening ceremony and the awards ceremony.

TCAT Henry/Carroll provides competency-based training that qualifies completers for employment and job advancement in career and technical fields. They contribute to the economic and community development of the community, and partner with community, business, and industry leaders to supply highly skilled workers in areas of need.

TCAT Henry/Carroll President John Penn Ridgeway has been a long-time supporter of SkillsUSA. “His leadership has been the guiding force for sending this many contestants and advisors to competition this year,” stated Donald Drinkard, SkillsUSA lead advisor for the Paris campus.

The school has a limited budget for the contests, and the expense will be huge.

“We are presently planning more fundraisers on both campuses in March and announcing those soon on the school’s Facebook page. We hope to get the community involved in supporting our efforts,” Drinkard said. “If any community member wants to make a donation, you can call the school at (731) 644-7365. Any amount would be appreciated.”

SkillsUSA’s vision is to produce the most highly skilled workforce in the world. SkillsUSA champions the skilled trades and empowers students to become skilled professionals, career-ready leaders, and responsible community leaders. With a membership of over 400,000, SkillsUSA serves students in over 130 occupational areas.