Central Tech-Sapulpa students recently joined more than 1,900 students and instructors from across Oklahoma who are "Framing the Future" at the 39th SkillsUSA State Leadership and Skills Championships. The conference was held at the Tulsa Convention Center April 25-27.

SkillsUSA, sponsored by Oklahoma Career and Technology Education, is the student organization associated with high school and adult students in the trade, industrial and technical occupations areas. It is one of the seven student organizations supporting Career Tech programs.

Students at Central Tech's Sapulpa campus winning awards at the state skills meet included: James Pickens, Sapulpa, 1st Place in Industrial Maintenance; Wayne Land, Sapulpa, 1st Place in Robotics Automation Technology Adult level competition; Lacey Swain, Hominy, 1st Place in Robotics Automation Technology; James Watt, Sapulpa, 2nd Place in Industrial Maintenance; Matt McCarn, Kiefer, 6 th Place in Industrial Motor Controls; Megan Stephans, Kellyville, 1st Place in Criminal Justice; Stephanie Bridgford, Sapulpa, 2nd Place in Adult Criminal Justice competition; Danielle Davis, Sapulpa, 2nd Place in Criminal Justice; Jennifer Brix, Sapulpa, 2nd Place in Prepared Speech; and Trey Hamill, Tulsa, 4 th Place in Criminal Justice.

"These organizations provide thousands of Oklahoma students with public speaking skills, leadership training and valuable work place experience preparing them for success in the workplace and in life after graduation," said Phil Berkenbile, state Career Tech director.

To meet the needs of the workforce, several new competitive events were added or expanded at this year's conference. With 1,400 students competing in over 100,000 sq. ft. of Convention Center space, plus six area Technology Centers, this year's state championships were the largest to date.