Smithson Valley High Student Places Second in Nation at SkillsUSA Practical Nursing Competition

August 26, 2024 - A Smithson Valley High School student placed second in the nation at the SkillsUSA practical nursing competition earlier this summer and was recognized for her achievement by the Comal ISD Board of Trustees during its regular meeting on August 22.

Clarissa Wallace, who just started the 11th grade, advanced to the SkillsUSA National Leadership Conference in Atlanta after winning the gold medal at the State Leadership Conference in the practical nursing competition last spring. The SVHS health science teacher and SkillsUSA adviser is Jennifer Carrillo, Ed.D.

In this competition, students are judged on their knowledge of medical terminology, body structure and function, nutrition, medications and nursing care. They must demonstrate their abilities to perform job skills such as administration of oral, subcutaneous and nasogastric medications; physical assessment; insertion of a nasogastric tube; sterile dressing change and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. At each workstation, they are judged on accuracy of their skill, organization, communication and safety.

Through SkillsUSA, students like Wallace sharpen their skills and techniques on the local, regional and state levels through competitions created and judged by industry leaders. The SkillsUSA Championships is the national pinnacle of those competitions, where more than 6,000 state champions compete in more than 100 skilled and leadership events.

More than 50 Comal ISD students in middle and high school qualified for state-level SkillsUSA competitions this spring. SkillsUSA offers students opportunities to explore career pathways as they discover technical, skilled, service and health occupations. Read more about these state qualifiers here.

 

Congratulations!

 

Photo Descriptions

-Smithson Valley High School student Clarissa Wallace accepts her second place silver medal this summer in the practical nursing competition at the SkillsUSA National Leadership Conference in Atlanta.

-Smithson Valley High School student Clarissa Wallace was recognized for her achievement by the Comal ISD Board of Trustees at its meeting on August 22. 

-Smithson Valley High School student Clarissa Wallace.

 

 

Read more Comal ISD news here.