Discover the inspiring community leadership of Severna Park HS students preparing for the SkillsUSA competition

Three students from Severna Park High School have been making waves in the current SkillsUSA competition.

Adeiline, Jessica, and Lily led three different projects that have caught the attention of the community.

The first project, Hero Baskets, involved creating care packages for local veterans, first responders, and active duty military. The trio worked tirelessly to collect donations and assemble the baskets with various goodies and essentials. They even went the extra mile by writing heartfelt letters to the veterans. They started delivering the Hero Baskets on February 26th. One basket went to Jones Station Fire Department and another one went to Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Department. They filled the baskets with snacks, gum, decks of cards, hand sanitizer, ChapStick, granola bars, chips, beef jerky, popcorn, and donations from Park Books and Garry’s Grill.  Park Books donated three hardback books for the first responders to read in their free time.  Garry’s Grill donated 3 muffin trays along with three $25 gift cards.  A third hero basket was given to the Eastern District Police Station in Pasadena.  The final 2 hero baskets had to be shipped. One was shipped to an air crew (2206) in Florida, where one was a Severna Park High School graduate, and the other was to the Drug Enforcement Agency.

Project Linus was the second project that the students took on. This project involved creating blankets to be donated to children in need. Adeiline, Jessica, and Lily spent countless hours knitting and weaving the blankets, all while coordinating with local charities to ensure that the blankets reached their intended recipients. They hosted 2 blanket party events where they made 55 homemade knot tie blankets. 10 of the 55 homemade blankets were made with quilts donated by one of their teacher’s parents. On March 2nd they delivered the blankets to the Severna Park Community. Project Linus has delivered more than 9,058,293 blankets since 1995 and they provide handmade blankets to children ages 0-18 in the US who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need.

The third project that the students led was creating posters that were hung around Severna Park High School spotlighting the school’s signature business program and some of the students that are in the program and have had some success.  They partnered with a local business to get the posters printed to create a professional aesthetic.

When asked about their experience in the competition, the students expressed gratitude for the opportunity to showcase their talents and make a positive impact in their community. When they were given the chance to evaluate their experience, here is what they said:

Lily reflected on what project was most rewarding to her.

“After finishing the projects, I feel that they were both equally as rewarding.  The Project Linus blanket making parties were not only fun but knowing that our homemade blankets are going to be handed out to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or in need felt really special.  Also, I appreciate all the hard work first responders and soldiers do so giving back to them is rewarding. Actually, getting to meet the Firefighters and see their surprised faces when dropping off the boxes of goodies was fulfilling. I have always enjoyed doing kind things for others. SkillsUSA has improved my communication skills and enhanced my leadership skills by teaching to write many emails, learning to network with local businesses, and organizing events like the blanket making party and the collecting donations for the Hero baskets.  Good communication and strong leadership are life long skills that will help me in the future.”

Adieline & Jessica reflected on what were some business skills that this SkillsUSA competition has helped them learn.

(Adieline) “So some business skills that I think have been improved by my time in Skills(USA) would definitely be public speaking. I would always get pretty nervous talking to business owners or in front of a big group, but as time has gone on, Skills has given me more and more experience and chances to practice I really feel like I have improved my speaking abilities. Skills have definitely taught me a lot about planning and managing my time, whether it was long term or short term, participating in Skills, particularly the competition aspect has really allowed my project management skills to improve. People should join Skills for all the opportunities it provides, there is something for everyone. Community Service, professional development and leadership. Skills prepares its participants for life outside the classroom.”

(Jessica) “I like how the organization helps me gain skills that I can use in the real world, like communicating with others, working with peers, problem-solving, and giving back to my community. Although obstacles happen, being able to work out problems with my peers helps a lot! I think more students should get involved in SkillsUSA because it prepares us for the real-world, and it provides a great learning experience!”

The SkillsUSA competition is a national event that brings together high school students from across the country to showcase their skills in various trades and industries. Adeiline, Jessica, and Lily have demonstrated exceptional leadership and teamwork skills throughout the competition, making Severna Park High School proud. The competition is ongoing, and Adeiline, Jessica, and Lily are looking forward to seeing where their hard work takes them. Their dedication and commitment to making a difference are an inspiration to us all. They hope to inspire other students to get involved in SkillsUSA and pursue their passions.

Check out the photos of their work: