Alayna Trautman, a junior at Royalton Hartland High School and an Electricity/Electronic student at the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center, has been named the New York State SkillsUSA President. Orleans/Niagara BOCES has not had a NYS president for many years. SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA helps each student to excel by empowering them to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens.
Upon learning the news of being NYS SkillsUSA President, Alayna says she was very emotional and excited. “This will be a great opportunity to be able to network with other state and national leaders. I really could not have done this without my great Electricity and Electronics teacher, Mr. Bill Leggett. He challenges me every day and is always there for me. I am also fortunate to have great classmates and wonderful SkillsUSA advisors: Mrs. Sarah Ivory and Mrs. Anne Carnahan who have supported me 100% and spent countless hours running me through mock interviews and helping me to settle my nerves.”
People would describe Alayna as dependable, committed, dedicated and reliable. “I am a member of the Buffalo Skating Club where I serve as the Treasurer for the Junior Board and volunteer with Learn to Skate at Cornerstone Arena in Lockport,” she says. “I work at Pool Mart in Lockport and my family owns a Christmas tree farm. I have been a member of the American Legion Post #1593 for 16 years and Girls Scouts Troop #70257 for the past 11 years. I will be completing my Gold project this school year. My commitment to figure skating has afforded me the opportunity to represent New York State in the State Games of America in both 2017 and 2019, by medaling at the NYS Empire State Games every year since 2015. Prior to figure skating I danced for Sylvia’s School of Dance for 10 years, that commitment allowed me a place on the dance team where I was able to perform at Walt Disney World Orlando’s Boardwalk in April of 2017.”
Being named President of the New York State SkillsUSA organization is one of the highest honors a student can achieve as they represent the state on a national level. Alayna was chosen for her dedication to the organization, excellent communication skills, her display of professionalism, her ability to work well as part of a team, her sense of responsibility and the way she represents Orleans/Niagara BOCES in different situations. She says, “A good leader communicates clearly delegates, has a positive attitude, displays confidence and is creative.” At Orleans/Niagara BOCES, she was elected to serve as the chapter’s SkillsUSA Officer Vice President by her peers, teachers and principal. Alayna vows to be a great leader and live by the Skills USA Motto, “Preparing for Leadership in the World of Work”. “We have all been impacted by the current health pandemic surrounding COVID-19, as the future workforce of America we must remain on track to fill the essential careers that support the American economy,” she says. “This crisis has quickly taught us the values of our SkillsUSA framework of being flexible, adaptable, organized, self-motivated, to communicate clearly, and most importantly computer and technology literacy. My goal as your New York State SkillsUSA President is to ensure that we are confident and prepared to meet America’s need.”
When asked why career and technical education she says, “Career and technical education is a great opportunity to gain skills, make new friends and prepare for college and/or a career. It has been a great opportunity for me in helping me achieve my goals.”
Alayna is the daughter of Anedda and Don Trautman. Her future goals are to be gainfully employed in the skilled trades field of electricity. She is exploring attending a two-year technical school or a four-year university after graduation next year. Her ultimate goal is to own her own contracting company.
