Trevion Brownlee, Adrian Ellis and Maurice Pulley of MPS’ Barack Obama School of Career and Technical Education all took first place at the statewide contest in April
Adrian Ellis (L) and Maurice Pulley (R) earned first place honors in the Robotics and Automation Technology competition at the Wisconsin SkillsUSA contest in April
MILWAUKEE – This summer, three Milwaukee Public Schools students will compete nationally in a showcase of Career and Technical Education students.
Barack Obama School of Career and Technical Education (BOSCTE) students Trevion Brownlee, Adrian Ellis and Maurice Pulley – along with their coach Dave Kontz – are headed to Louisville, Kentucky later this month for the 52nd annual National Leadership and Skills Conference (NLSC).
They will also compete against nearly 6,000 other students from across the country in the SkillsUSA Championships. At the national championships, students work against the clock and each other, proving their expertise in occupations such as electronics, computer-aided drafting, precision machining, medical assisting and culinary arts.
The students earned their spots at the national competition by placing first in the statewide contest. Juniors Adrian Ellis and Maurice Pulley won the Robotics and Automation Technology competition and senior Trevion Brownlee placed first in the Job Skill Open Class Demonstration.
Trevion Brownlee (right) took 1st place in the Job Skill Demonstration category describing the “Development of an Aquaponics System.”
SkillsUSA is a student organization for middle and high school technology and engineering education programs. BOSCTE is currently the only MPS school with SkillsUSA. Both Pulaski and Bradley Tech high schools are expected to join BOSCTE next school year.
Central to the district’s plan to increase academic achievement as part of its eight big ideas is the redesign of the MPS experience to include expansion of fine arts, athletic programs and the opportunity for all students to participate in student clubs, associations and organization that support their interests and increase their connection with their school and community.
These activities offer opportunities for students to learn the values of teamwork, individual and group responsibility, physical strength and endurance, competition, diversity, and a sense of culture and community. Extracurricular activities provide a channel for reinforcing the lessons learned in the classroom, offering students the opportunity to apply academic skills in a real-world context, and are considered part of a well-rounded education.