Every December, students in JATC’s  nail design and hair design programs work together on a themed challenge which stretches their skills and imaginations. 

“They have to think outside the box,” JATC hair design and barbering program instructor Kisty Butcher said. “Within these programs, there’s a very creative element. Even cutting hair is a creative element -- you're creating art on hair.”

JATC students used various techniques to make hair to reflect the fabric colors and textures in the dress of Sally, a character in “Nightmare Before Christmas.” (Jet Burnham/City Journals)

This year, the theme of Christmas movies inspired students to turn hair into trees and fabric and to elaborately decorate nails.

Students had a week of prep and planning and then one hour and 45 minutes to create their look on a model. It was a fun warm-up for students to prepare for SkillsUSA competitions, which challenge students’ skills in preparation for trade, technical and skilled service careers.

There are more than 100 different categories in SkillsUSA competitions and JATC programs send teams of students to showcase their technical skills as well as soft skills in topics ranging from agriculture to food services to welding. Not only are students judged on practical skills, they are rated on leadership, customer service, teamwork, communication, marketing, interpersonal skills and confidence.

“Every program has different standards that they have to follow, so basically they take something right from every part of the program to showcase,” Butcher said. For example, instead of showing skills in hair sculpture, students will give a presentation about hair color.

Kira Rodgers and Elery Butterfield of the nail design program took first place, and Jordan Rushton and Derek Shamrell of the construction management program took second place in the entrepreneurship event at the SkillsUSA Wasatch South Region competition. (Photo courtesy Sonja Burton)

Competitions include skills-based categories and leadership and communication skills categories for all the career and skills pathways. To help prepare students to compete at the state SkillsUSA competition at the end of March, and nationals competition in June, JATC hosts the SkillsUSA Wasatch South Region Leadership & Communication Contest every February.

“The whole purpose of this is to get the yips out, get them familiar with how the competition runs, so that they can perform better when it comes to state,” SkillsUSA Utah Contest Manager Blair Jensen said.

At the region contest, CHHS senior Chloie Rock, a senior in the Nail Tech program, competed in the job demo A event, presenting on a specific skill of nail design- line art. She wasn’t being judged on her work but rather her ability to explain the techniques, products and skills required.

Taylee Steed, a CHHS senior in the Nail Tech program, competed in the job skills open category in which she had to demonstrate skills outside her program. She chose to teach how to make a boutonniere which exhibited communication, organization and time management skills. She felt good about how she performed at the regional and was preparing for state but wasn’t worried about qualifying for the national competition this summer. 

JATC students used various techniques to make hair to reflect the fabric colors and textures in the dress of Sally, a character in “Nightmare Before Christmas.” (Jet Burnham/City Journals)

“I might go to state but I wouldn’t go to nationals-- it’s the same day as graduation,” she said.

JATC Principal Sonja Burton-Juarez said the regional competition is so beneficial for students. “They can get good feedback, and then they can make changes for the next level so they'll be prepared at state,” she said.

A team of students in the JATC construction management program competed in jobs skills demos, job interviews and speeches, and medaled in the entrepreneurship skills events.

“I think what we're getting out of this is a taste of real life, what it's going to be like in the workforce, maybe, like doing a presentation or a job resume or application, something like that which kind of requires you to go out of your way, above and beyond,” one participant said.

Another of the students, who owns a seasonal landscaping and lawn mowing business, said participating in the entrepreneurship event has helped him learn more about successful business models and professional communication. “I had a little bit of knowledge, but going more in-depth has really benefited me,” he said. “I will be making changes once I start [my business] back up again.”

Alyanna Patel, a junior from Riverton High School, signed up to participate in SkillsUSA to get some practical experience and gain more confidence. She was put in a role-playing scenario in which she demonstrated her customer service skills as she responded to customers, prioritized tasks and solved problems. 

Copper Hills High junior Serenity Lefevre wins region champ for Prepared Speech at SkillsUSA region. (Photo courtesy Sonja Burton)

“Working with people has always been something I enjoyed, and I love problem-solving and trying to help people to the best of my abilities,” she said. “I feel like it's really just a good skill to have--at least from my perspective. I work at a coffee shop. Interacting with people, even on a daily basis, is a very important skill to have. I think it's very important that they do this, because it really gives students an opportunity in the scholarship realm and just to get really good life skills.”

Serenity Lefevre, a student in the welding program who was named region champion in the prepared speech event, said, “I do still get kind of nervous talking in front of people, but I feel like this will make it easier.” 

She believes the skills she developed to write and memorize a speech can be applied in a future job to communicate with co-workers, write reports and maybe even give some kind of speech.

JATC students traditionally perform well at SkillsUSA competitions. JATC students earned second and third place medals at last year’s nationals competition. “We always have at least two people that win,” Burton-Juarez said. “We like Skills--it’s what we do.”