HOISINGTON — Hoisington High School Industrial Arts students travelled to Nebraska to learn leadership skills and participated in projects.

This is a leadership conference with its objective being getting students involved. Students put in a lot of hours in four days but there were events that allowed the students to be social. Friday night there was a dance for all SkillsUSA members and each chapter had the option to host a social.

"Our trip to the SkillsUSA fall leadership conference in Columbus, Neb. went great," said Tyrel Coker, Industrial Arts instructor. "The students had a really good time and so did I.

We learned a lot from the conference and the students were sad to leave after four days," he said. "There are a lot of things from the conference that we will implement in our local SkillsUSA chapter in order to provide more opportunities for our students.

"We started off with a room full of students (about 18) from several states and they had to elect officer and conduct their first meeting-with help of course," he continued. "Every morning started with breakfast at 7:30 a.m as a group of 160 people followed by opening ceremonies run by the students, and the last items on the agenda were accomplished around 11:59 p.m. each night."

"We had several general sessions where students planned, organized, and participated in community service projects, fund-raising, social events, industrial tours as well as conducting meetings and advertising their chapter through posters," Coker said.

"SkillsUSA is a great opportunity for students to network with other students and advisors as well as develop skills that will prepare them for the world of work," Coker said.