Michael Angel and WebProfessionals.org Go for The Gold at the WorldSkills Web Design Contest

Michael Angel, the gold medal winner of the 2011 U.S. National Web Design Contest will go on to represent the USA in the WorldSkills Competition in Brazil in November and Leipzig, Germany in 2013.

“It’s an honor to be the technical expert trainer and a mentor to Michael,” said Bill Cullifer, Executive Director and Founder for WebProfessionals.org. “The WorldSkills competition recognizes the world’s best talents and Michael represents one of the best and the brightest up-and-coming Web professionals. I feel Michael has a strong chance to bring home the gold,” Cullifer said.

In 2011, Michael Angel, a student at the Computer Animation and Web Page Design program at the Center for Technology Essex in Essex Junction, VT captured gold at the SkillsUSA National Web Design competition managed by the membership-supported WebProfessionals.org.

image of 2011 web design contest winners

As a result, Angel was selected, along with the other top competitors, in 3,000 occupational specialties to compete in the upcoming WorldSkills International Competitions.

Here are some WorldSkills Competition Fast Facts:

•WorldSkills attracts over 200,000 visitors
•Over 60 countries and regions compete
•More than 1,000 competitors participate
•More than 1,000 media and journalist attend
•Only 1 in 17,000 students will be chosen to compete
•Over 3,000 specialist participate
•Sponsoring organizations invest over $35,000 on each competitor to cover travel, hotel, meals, uniforms and training
•The Web Design Contest was first introduced into WorldSkills at the 37th WorldSkills Competition in St. Gallen, Switzerland in 2003

Cullifer said that Angel has been given competition blueprints for a variety of Web Design projects that competitors are required to build on their own time and submit for judging by a panel of experts. The requirements range from Web accessibility, Graphic Design and Layout, Programming, Process and Professionalism. Angel also will have access to hundreds of hours of extensive training resources.

The Web Design Contests are designed to promote Web standards, industry best practices, professionalism and the elevation of profession, which Cullifer calls “one of the hottest career pathways in the world.”

About WorldSkills

WorldSkills International is a not-for-profit membership association open to agencies or bodies which have a responsibility for promoting vocational education and training in their respective countries or regions. WorldSkills International operates worldwide and is politically and denominationally neutral.

WorldSkills International 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 the newer technology multi-skilled vocations make an essential contribution to the economic and social well-being of people everywhere.

As a free-standing, non-political organization, WorldSkills International provides a cost-effective means for international government and industry cooperation in achieving higher standards and status for vocational education and training on a worldwide basis.

About the National Web Design Conest

Since 2003, the not for profit WebProfessionals.org organization collaboration with SkillsUSA has sponsored the National Web Design Contest taking place in Kansas City, MO in June of each year. The purpose of the Web Design Contest is to evaluate each contestant’s preparation for employment and to recognize outstanding students for excellence and professionalism in the field of Web design, Web development and Webmastering. Key milestones include awarding over a million dollars of education scholarships for participating students. Supporting organizations include Adobe.com, Boston University and Microsoft.

AboutSkillsUSA

SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA helps each student excel.
SkillsUSA’s mission is to help its members become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens.
SkillsUSA serves more than 300,000 students and instructors annually.
The organization has 13,000 school chapters in 54 state and territorial associations.
More than 14,500 instructors and administrators are professional members of SkillsUSA.

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