District Five student selected to lead SkillsUSA for state
May 1, 2016
CHAPIN, SC – One student in Lexington-Richland School District Five has been named president of the South Carolina chapter of SkillsUSA, a national career and education organization established to prepare students to succeed in the workplace.
Junior Blythe Lybrand, a Criminal Justice student at the Center for Advanced Technical Studies, was chosen among seven students across the state to lead the South Carolina SkillsUSA chapter. The selection committee reviewed educational accomplishments, written responses, and had each student deliver a speech to the committee regarding their education and career aspirations. Lybrand remarked that while her speech was extemporaneous, it was well received by the judges, who eventually named her as the state president.
Earlier in the month, Lybrand and four other students from the Center won their third State Championship in the 2016 Criminal Justice Quiz Bowl sponsored by SkillsUSA in Greenville. Although Quiz Bowl winners don’t compete at the national level, Lybrand will be headed to the National Leadership and Skills Conference to represent students from across South Carolina. The national conference will be held June 20-24 in Louisville, KY.
SkillsUSA allows students to collaborate with teachers and industry experts in order to get the preparation they need to excel at school and prepare for America’s workforce. Its mission is to “empower its members to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens.” Through educational programs, events, and competitions, SkillsUSA works with more than 300,000 students and instructors through 13,000 school chapters across the nation annually.
In her role as president, Lybrand will travel to local chapters to speak to students across the state, represent South Carolina in national meetings, and participate in a series of leadership training opportunities offered by SkillsUSA. Lybrand has been a student at the Center since her sophomore year.
“I’ve always be one with a desire to help and to put others first,” said Lybrand in an interview.
That motivation to help others led her to study law enforcement and criminal science, which are offered at the Center. This study, combined with her community service as a cadet at the Lexington County Sheriff’s office, has given Lybrand a real love for serving those around her.
As a cadet with the sheriff’s office, Lybrand participates in scenario training, traffic stops, fingerprint events for children, and riding along with deputies on duty.
“I love the field work,” said Lybrand. “There’s a certain adrenaline rush to being out there on duty.”
Lybrand stated she has applied for a law enforcement summer internship and that one day she would like to consider opportunities with the FBI, the U.S. Marshalls, and other law enforcement agencies. .
