KANSAS CITY – Students from Maine high schools and college technical education programs won the nation’s highest awards at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference.

Industry leaders representing more than 1,100 businesses, corporations, trade associations and unions recognized the students for their demonstrated excellence in 91 hands-on occupational and leadership contests, such as robotics, criminal justice, aviation maintenance and public speaking.

“More than 5,000 students from every state in the nation came to compete in the SkillsUSA Championships,” said SkillsUSA Executive Director Tim Lawrence. “This is the SkillsUSA partnership at its best. Students, instructors and industries are working together to ensure America has a skilled work force and every student excels. These students prove that career and technical education expands opportunities.”

According to Lawrence, survey data say that 75 percent of these students will go on to higher education. Included in that number are 40 percent who will attend college and work at the same time. Of those graduating from school this year, 76 percent plan to work in the field for which they’ve trained.

“They’re the employees industry wants to hire and promote,” Lawrence said.

Industry support of the SkillsUSA Championships is valued at more than $30 million in donated time, equipment, cash and material. All contests are run and judged by industry experts using industry standards for employment. Contests assess hands-on, employability and academic skills. More than 1,200 industry judges participated this year.

All student winners received medallions. Many also received prizes such as tools of their trades and-or scholarships to further their careers and education. The SkillsUSA Championships are for high school and college-level students who are members of SkillsUSA.

In addition, for the second year, the winners and other high scorers received Skill Point Certificates. The Skill Point Certificate was awarded in 59 occupational areas at this year’s National Leadership and Skills Conference. The certificate is earned by achieving a score defined by industry, based on contest standards designed by industry representatives. While the SkillsUSA Championships have been a premier event since 1967, the Skill Point Certificates were introduced last year as a component of the SkillsUSA Work Force Ready System: The Way Ahead.

The SkillsUSA Work Force Ready System was developed as an extension of the SkillsUSA mission and supported by a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. The system recognizes students for excellence in occupational training; it assesses and documents the entry-level technical proficiency and cumulative experiences of candidates. For information about the SkillsUSA Work Force Ready System, visit, www.workforcereadysystem.com.

SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry personnel working to ensure America has a skilled work force. SkillsUSA serves more than 300,000 students and instructors annually and served more than 9.6 million members since its founding in 1965. The organization has 19,333 sections and 54 state and territorial associations.

Medalists for Maine are:

. Team A, consisting of Sarah Maciulavicius, Andrew Parece and Christopher Chase, from Penobscot Job Corps in Bangor, college-postsecondary bronze medal in techprep-manufacturing.

. Corinne Finley of Bangor and a student at Penobscot Job Corps, college-postsecondary bronze medal in medical math.

. Team A, consisting of Molly Cyr, Nicole Poirier and Amber Poirier, from Capitol ATC in Augusta, high school bronze medal in techprep-science, technology and math.

. Team A, consisting of Aaron Preo, Brandon Fowlie and Seth Cloutier, from Capitol ATC in Augusta, High School bronze medal in techprep-law, public safety and security.

. Frederick Asam of Presque Isle and a student at Caribou Regional Applied Tech Center was awarded the college-postsecondary gold medal in action skills.

Recipients of Skill Point Certificates are:

. Corey Seelye of Bangor and a student at Penobscot Job Corps, employment application process.

. Megan Zambo of Hampden and a student at United Technologies Center in Bangor, automotive refinishing technology.

. Team A, consisting of Alan P. Scherger and Thomas McClellan from Hancock County Tech Center in Ellsworth, Web design.

. Samantha Eaton of Ellsworth and a student at Hancock County Tech Center in Ellsworth, food and beverage service.

. Lana Wheeler of West Minot and a student at Oxford Hills Technical School in Norway, advertising design.

. Jeremiah Sjoberg of Washburn and a student at Presque Isle Regional Vocational Center in Presque Isle, photography.

. Tory Stark of Knox and a student at Waldo County Technical Center, computer maintenance technology.

. Nick Stinson of Waterville and a student at Mid-Maine Technical Center in Waterville, firefighting.

. Trevor Tucker of Winslow and a student at Mid-Maine Technical Center in Waterville, collision repair technology.