Cordell Class of 2022 and Western Technology Center (WTC)-Cosmetology 2022 graduate Cassandra Parker stole the show at the National SkillsUSA Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta, Georgia on June 20-26.
Parker earned her spot at nationals after receiving a gold medal in the Oklahoma SkillsUSA Esthetics Competition in April. Parker and her model, Kylie Powers from Merritt, represented WTC and Oklahoma to the highest degree. She was able to showcase her talent and skills at an extremely complicated and competitive level.
“At SkillsUSA, you compete for three out of the five or six days that you are there. In the Esthetics Competition we do facials, day or night makeup, and a fantasy makeup look. Every year the board chooses a theme that the artists must come up with a makeup look to showcase the theme. This year, the theme was Disney. I did a special effects Cruella de Vil inspired look. In order to be able to compete at nationals you would have to place in the top three at regionals. Then you would have to place first at state to earn a spot to compete at nationals,” said Parker.
After an immense amount of energy and effort, Parker placed fourth in the nation in Esthetics.
“Going to nationals was one of the most exciting things I was able to experience. I was able to meet many new makeup artists from across the country. I was able to learn and pick up so many useful tricks from the different competitors. I am so beyond grateful to have had an opportunity like this. It was definitely an experience that I would never want to forget.”
According to WTC, SkillsUSA is one of seven CareerTech student organizations affiliated with CareerTech programs. It is affiliated with trade and industrial education. Oklahoma SkillsUSA students brought home plenty of honors from the 58th National Leadership and Skills Conference. Students won 74 medals – 38 gold, 22 silver, and 14 bronze. Oklahoma had 177 competitors place in the top 10 during the conference’s competition.
Parker went on to say, “To be honest, it still does not even feel real. I still can’t believe it. I have worked so hard for the past couple of years for this moment and I guess a part of me is still trying to process it. A couple of years ago when I started cosmetology, I would have never imagined I would make it this far. I could not have done this without the support of my friends, family, Mrs. Whitson, Mrs. Tate, Mr. Helton, my model Kylie and the rest of the 2021-2022 cosmetology class, and WTC as well as SkillsUSA. Thank you so much and I will always cherish the memories that have been created along the way.”