A 2023 Summerland graduate ended her high school SkillsUSA career with a finish in the top 10 at the 2023 SkillsUSA National Leadership Conference in Atlanta, June 19 - 23.

Faith King competed in Job Skills Demonstration A, where a contestant explains an entry-level technical skill used in an occupational area. She demonstrated how to perform the Heimlich maneuver on an infant.

"Although nationals did not turn out the way that I would have hoped, I had the time of my life, celebrating my last high school trip with my amazing teammates," King said.

She learned she qualified for the final round, June 21, and presented her final round demo at 8 a.m., the following day.

The top three medalists were announced June 23, during the national award ceremony.

King has accumulated a pile of accolades in job skills demonstration “A” from the career and technical education organization, including middle school job skills demonstration “A” champion, national bronze medalist and skill point recipient in 2019. She also was awarded the Governor’s Recognition for Excellence award that year.

In 2020, COVID postponed state and national competition. In 2021, King was the state runner-up. In 2022, she won the state championship and was a national finalist.

She summed up her experiences in the organization with, “I made memories and experiences that I will carry with me for my adult life.”

Julie Olivan, a Summerland junior, participated in prepared speech, expounding on the organization’s theme, “Our Time is Now.” She did not break into finals.

This was Olivan’s second appearance in national competition. In 2022, she competed in cosmetology.

Cassie Livingston, Jaelyn Shaver and Sierra Thomson competed in the middle school engineering challenge. The trio constructed a boat which had to float a predetermined distance. Their project made it through the waterway. The next day, the girls met with judges to explain the process they utilized. The group did not advance to the medal round.