MTC grad to represent USA at WorldSkills Competition
Young Skilled Web Design Technician to Compete at WorldSkills Competition
Leesburg, Va. — Matthew Vreman, of Parrish, Fla., will represent the United States in Web Technologies at the biennial WorldSkills Competition in Kazan, Russia. Vreman will compete as a member of the WorldSkills USA team, selected and trained by SkillsUSA. The 45th international event will be held Aug. 22-27, 2019.
Five years ago, Matthew Vreman would never have dreamed of competing on the WorldSkills USA team for web design — he knew nothing about it at the time. Having always had an interest in technology, he took a class at Manatee Technical College, and the web design program caught his attention. With an instructor he describes as “absolutely amazing,” he fell in love with web design. “My web design instructor, Vera Bourenina, really cares about all of her students and was willing to do whatever she could to help us succeed.”
Vreman particularly enjoys web design’s mix of both creativity and logic. As fields of technology are constantly changing, he is always studying new techniques. “If a website is poorly designed or built, it pushes people away, whereas a well-designed website will draw people in. I love to learn new things,” he said.
When asked about how he feels about competing at the WorldSkills competition, he said, “I have learned much more about my technical skill than I ever could have imagined, while training to compete against the best in the country — and now the world. It’s an amazing honor to be one of the select few chosen, and I’m grateful for this opportunity to prove my skills on the international stage.”
After WorldSkills, Vreman plans on staying in web design while continuing to expand his skill set among different subsections of the field. “My dream job would be to work as a developer for a company that provides website and app development for other companies. This is an extremely important field. Everyone uses the internet, and a cutting-edge website is one of the best forms of advertisement for companies,” he said. To see a video about Vreman, go to: https://youtu.be/XhRrEGTBAnw
Every two years, WorldSkills hosts the world championships of skills, which attracts more than 1,600 competitors from more than 76 countries and regions around the world to compete in more than 50 different trade skills. Considered the best in the world at each trade skill, contestants compete before the public for four days in contests that are run and judged by industry using demanding international standards. They represent the best students from each nation and many are highly trained by their sponsoring country. To see a list of competitions, go to: https://worldskills2019.com/en/event/skills/
There are 22 members on the WorldSkills USA team, with an average age of 19. Other occupational areas in which the United States plans to compete include Aircraft Maintenance, Autobody Repair, Automobile Technology, Bakery, Bricklaying, Cabinetmaking, Car Painting, CNC Milling, Cooking, Cyber Security, Graphic Design, Hairdressing, Heavy Vehicle Maintenance, Mechanical Engineering CAD, Mechatronics, Plumbing and Heating, Print Media, Restaurant Service and Welding.
Hundreds of thousands of spectators, public policymakers, employers, teachers, trainers, technical experts and government officials from around the world will attend this competition. The event will be held at the Kazan Expo International Exhibition Centre. For more information about the competition, go to: https://worldskills2019.com/en
For more information about Matthew Vreman and the WorldSkills USA team, go to: www.worldskillsusa.org
Unlike other national teams in the WorldSkills Competition, the WorldSkills USA team is funded solely through private donations. To donate funds or in-kind support, go to: www.worldskillsusa.org/donate/
About SkillsUSA
SkillsUSA is a vital solution to the growing U.S. skills gap. SkillsUSA empowers its members to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens as it improves the quality of our nation’s future skilled workforce. The nonprofit partnership of students, instructors and industry ensures America has the skilled workforce it needs to stay competitive. SkillsUSA helps every student excel through the development of SkillsUSA Framework skills that include personal, workplace and technical skills grounded in academics. The association serves more than 360,000-member students and instructors per year in middle schools, high schools and colleges. This diverse talent pipeline covers 130 trade, technical and skilled service occupations, the majority STEM-related. More than 600 corporations, trade associations, businesses and labor unions actively support SkillsUSA at the national level. Local, state and national championships are designed and judged by industry to set relevant standards for career and technical education and provide recognition opportunities for students. SkillsUSA programs also help to establish industry standards for job skill training in the lab and classroom and promote community service. SkillsUSA is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and is cited as a “successful model of employer-driven youth development training program” by the U.S. Department of Labor. SkillsUSA offers technical skill assessments and workplace credentials through the SkillsUSA Career Essentials program, a cutting-edge solution that defines, implements and measures career readiness skills for students. For more information: www.skillsusa.org
About WorldSkills
Since 1950, WorldSkills has come to symbolize the pinnacle of excellence in vocational training. It provides a unique means of exchange and comparison of world-class competency standards in the industrial trades and service sectors of the global economy. The continued growth of WorldSkills International attests to the fact that traditional trade and craft skills, along with newer technology’s multi-skilled occupations, make an essential contribution to the economic and social well-being of people everywhere. For more information, go to: www.WorldSkills.org
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