Billerica, MA – Shawsheen Valley Technical High School’s SkillsUSA chapter held its annual officer installation ceremony on December 3rd in the school auditorium. This formal event brought together families, students, state leadership, and school personnel to celebrate the appointment of the chapter’s new officers and highlight the importance of their leadership roles.
The ceremony commenced with a warm welcome from Chapter Advisor Heidi Lloyd, followed by Assistant Chapter Advisor Karen Meister’s initiation of the installation process with the swearing-in of Parliamentarian Nariah Oscar. From there, the event transitioned to a student-led format, showcasing the professionalism and skills of the newly elected officers. Each officer-elect performed a ceremonial candle-lighting, received a pin of distinction and the resources for their role, and introduced the next officer-elect for swearing-in.
The following seven officers were officially installed:
- Nariah Oscar (Parliamentarian)
- Spencer Talbot (Ambassador)
- Devyn Donnelly (Historian)
- Carmella Deacy (Treasurer)
- Mackenzie Miller (Secretary)
- Karina Palencia (Vice President)
- Giana Manoloulis (President)
President Giana Manoloulis concluded the officer installations with an inspiring speech reflecting on her journey with SkillsUSA. “For me, SkillsUSA has been about personal growth,” she shared, describing her transformation from a shy freshman to a confident senior leader. “SkillsUSA gave me the opportunity to improve public speaking and believe in myself,” she added, crediting the organization’s training programs for her development. Giana expressed her gratitude, stating, “There are so many wonderful things about SkillsUSA, and I am honored to represent our chapter as President.”
Following her speech, President Manoloulis recognized the chapter’s sub-committee members for their contributions, presenting each with leadership handbooks, pins, and certifications for participating in the organization’s fall state leadership conference. Sub-committee members include: Millie Hardy, Eliel Soto, Finn Shibles, Tyler Labeta, Carly Heichman, Sofia Medeiros, Braedon Brazil, Kevin Pio, and Maddox Cadet.
The ceremony also featured an inspiring address from guest speaker Akram Mchiti, SkillsUSA State Vice President and a senior Information Technology Services student at Essex Tech. Mchiti emphasized the value of limitless learning in leadership, stating, “As you embark on your new leadership positions, remember that leadership is a continuous journey.” He likened the officers’ roles to essential components of a system, saying, “You are the gears in a machine, the program in a video game, and the engine in a car. Your role is vital to the success of the chapter and its members.”
Shawsheen’s SkillsUSA chapter has been actively engaged this fall, with upcoming events including the conclusion of their Annual Toys for Tots drive and the planning of its first holiday party for a local shelter.
SkillsUSA is a national non-profit organization dedicated to preparing students for success as skilled professionals, career-ready leaders, and responsible community members. By focusing on personal skills, workplace competencies, and technical expertise grounded in academics, SkillsUSA equips students to excel in over 130 occupational fields. Participants develop essential career-readiness skills such as teamwork, communication, professionalism, and leadership, laying the foundation for lifelong achievement.
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