TCAT Clarksville Campus represented at Washington Leadership Training Institute 

CLARKSVILLE, TN – Ontroy Canty, a Mechatronics Multicraft Tech student at TCAT Dickson’s Clarksville Campus, and Carlos Felix, SkillsUSA advisor and Clarksville Campus Industrial Electrical Maintenance / Mechatronics instructor, represented Clarksville at the SkillsUSA Washington Leadership Training Institute (WLTI) held in Washington D.C. September 20 through 24.

Attended by more than 540 people from more than fifteen states, WLTI provided unique opportunities for Canty and Felix to advocate for the skilled trades while receiving advanced leadership training.

Canty, an Army veteran originally from Jacksonville, Florida, competed in the SkillsUSA state competition a few years ago while enrolled in the Machine Tool Technology program also at TCAT Dickson’s Clarksville Campus. Attending WLTI was an opportunity for him to learn more about the organization. “I am considering running for SkillsUSA state office and representing Tennessee. I have already competed and I believe I could do a good job as an officer and apparently my instructor thinks I have the leadership skills,” Canty said.

The first step in running for state office is attending WLTI where students learn to network, participate in panel discussions, discuss technical skills in the workplace, and share their technical education and SkillsUSA competition experiences.

“Watching the state officers prepare the huddle groups for us (delegates) has made me want to come back here and be proactive. I want to bring that kind of work ethic that I saw back to this campus,” Canty shared.

Felix said advisors were networking and learning more about SkillsUSA while students were in their huddle sessions. “I knew about SkillsUSA and the competitions. I knew about the fundraising side of things to send our students to competition and about the officer positions our students hold here. I learned a lot about the background of SkillsUSA. I was able to expand my knowledge of what SkillsUSA has to offer and about the advisor leadership positions,” Felix added.

Students enrolled at TCAT Dickson’s campuses raise funds to be able to compete in the 115 events offered by SkillsUSA. Fundraising helps cover the necessary tools, uniforms, and travel expenses associated with the competitions.

SkillsUSA state competitions are held each spring with gold medalists going to SkillsUSA nationals during the summer. Twelve TCAT Dickson students from the Dickson and Clarksville campuses earned medals at state competition earlier this year with five bringing home gold. Three of those gold medalists went on to earn bronze medals at SkillsUSA Nationals.

“I got to meet instructors, presidents, and advisors from other states. I gained knowledge and insight into how their programs operate. Our chapter at TCAT Dickson does so much more than other chapters across the United States. They were asking us for ideas,” Felix said. “We are forerunners for sure,” Canty added.

In addition to leadership sessions and panel discussions, WLTI delegates tour D.C. visiting monuments and museums. They also observed a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. Canty and Felix walked twenty-seven miles in just four days taking in the sites of D.C.

Canty is excited about the possibility of a future leadership role with SkillsUSA. “Opportunities are endless as long as you apply yourself and put yourself out there. The sky is the limit,” he said.

For more information on any of TCAT Dickson’s 18 programs of study across its three campuses in Dickson, Clarksville, and Franklin visit tcatdickson.edu or call 615-441-6220.