Skills USA is a yearly competition where vocational students enter categories relating to their classes, (like plumbing, cosmetology and customer service) and compete for spots to go to the national level. At SkillsUSA nationals, an ongoing tradition is the exchange of souvenir pins representing one's home state. These pins are created by vocational students in their respective states, and a contest is then held for all competing students who wish to enter a design.

Liberty senior and third-year graphic communications student Natalie Flores has been involved with Skills for two years. As a newcomer to the contest last year, Natalie describes Skills as a very rewarding experience. Despite getting involved for the first time, Natalie placed third in graphic communications last year, even though she did not have a lot of experience in her category.

"It took me by surprise. I had barely worked on the type of press they had in the competition, but ended up placing," Natalie recalls. "Everyone involved is really nice. I had a lot of different opportunities through Skills."

Because of her beneficial experience in 2014, she decided to further her involvement and enter her design for a pin into the district competition. Natalie strove to incorporate all of the different classes and skills into her pin, as well as the pride BAVTS has in Pennsylvania. Natalie's pin won at the district level, out of all the competing students in the BAVTS's district. The design will now go to the state level, where Natalie hopes to win and her pin will be available to all Skills contestants to represent not only BAVTS, but the entire state of Pennsylvania.

BAVTS is also gearing up for their 50th anniversary celebration next school year. Although most details are still in the works, BAVTS is looking for alumni and current students to get involved and make this milestone fun and educational for the whole community.