Across the nation, K-12 technology leaders are working harder than ever to equip students with the digital fluency, career awareness, and real-world problem-solving skills they will need to thrive after graduation. Yet even the most forward-thinking districts often struggle to connect classroom learning with authentic industry expectations. That is where carefully orchestrated partnerships—grounded in volunteerism, shared expertise, and a genuine commitment to student success—can make all the difference.
At C1, our K-12 mission statement, “Powering student outcomes through technology”, isn’t confined to enterprise data centers or customer success metrics. It extends directly to students, teachers, and administrators in K-12 districts from coast to coast. One of the clearest expressions of that commitment is our involvement in SkillsUSA, the largest career and technical student organization in the United States.
In the this article, you will discover why two C1 engineers used their Volunteer Time Off (VTO) to architect and judge statewide IT competitions, how those efforts helped a California student place second in nationals for the first time in fifteen years, and why more than 100 districts came away from a recent California IT in Education (CITE) conference seeing new possibilities for their own learners. Most important, you will learn actionable steps your district can take, right now, to join a movement that is reshaping how students prepare for careers in cybersecurity, networking, software development, and a host of other high-demand disciplines.
Why Technical Skills Matter: A Snapshot for K-12 IT Leaders
Digital transformation has touched every corner of K-12 education. Chromebooks and tablets are as common as No. 2 pencils; cloud-based learning management systems keep classes running during snow days; and data analytics drives early intervention for struggling students. Yet those same trends have amplified the urgency around workforce readiness:
- Cybersecurity talent gap: The (ISC)² Cybersecurity Workforce Study estimates a 3.4-million-person shortfall worldwide, a figure echoed in state-level reports demanding earlier exposure to security fundamentals.
- Evolving career pathways: Gartner projects that by 2030, 80% of job roles will require baseline data literacy and foundational knowledge of automation or artificial intelligence.
- Equity of opportunity: Students who experience hands-on STEM programs are significantly more likely to pursue postsecondary education in high-growth fields, according to the National Science Board.
For K-12 IT directors, CTOs, and instructional technology coordinators, these realities translate into a dual mandate: maintain reliable, secure infrastructures for teaching and learning and cultivate programs that give students authentic, resume-worthy experience. This is precisely where SkillsUSA shines, and where C1’s partnership creates an even stronger bridge between academia and industry.
SkillsUSA at a Glance: Turning Classrooms Into Launchpads
Founded in 1965, SkillsUSA serves more than 400,000 middle-school, high-school, and college/post-secondary students each year, integrating career-readiness training directly into classroom curriculum. In California alone, membership tops 57,000. Students hone both technical skills, network configuration, cloud migration, secure coding, and employability attributes such as teamwork, public speaking, and project management.
The program’s competition framework operates like a funnel:
- Regional Leadership and Skills Conference (RLSC) – Students meet peers from neighboring districts, tackle timed projects, and receive detailed feedback from volunteer judges.
- State Leadership and Skills Conference (SLSC) – Gold, silver, and bronze medal winners emerge after rigorous practical exams and interviews with professionals.
- National Leadership and Skills Conference (NLSC) – State champions face off, showcasing the best of the best in more than 100 skill areas.
As Clay Mitchell, State Director of SkillsUSA California, notes, “SkillsUSA is about preparing students for the world of work. We partner with business and industry to ensure students gain the skills they need to succeed.”
C1’s Volunteer Time Off Program: A Blueprint for Industry Engagement
Most organizations encourage volunteerism; C1 institutionalizes it. Through our Volunteer Time Off (VTO) program, employees receive paid time each year to serve causes aligned with our core values: Be Human, Be Bold, Be One. The policy covers a broad spectrum of activities, but employee interest consistently gravitates toward education and youth development.
For K-12 leaders, that structure offers a sustainable, scalable way to tap real-world expertise without exhausting district budgets. When C1 engineers devote days or even weeks to mentoring students, designing information technology competition labs, or advising technology clubs, the district incurs zero labor cost. Yet the value students derive, cutting-edge content, industry-standard equipment, and credible feedback, often eclipses what traditional professional development can deliver.
From Judges to Architects: Two Engineers Transform a Competition
The genesis of C1’s SkillsUSA partnership began with a simple phone call. The San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools needed judges for an upcoming contest. When C1 engineers John Kerns and Paul Chapman volunteered, they learned that SkillsUSA also had an urgent gap in computer programming oversight.
“We thought it was for the cybersecurity competition, but they actually needed someone for computer programming,” Paul recalls. “So John and I ran that competition, and they liked what we did.”
The following year, the duo stepped up again, this time building entire competitions from scratch. Paul drafted the Internetworking challenge, complete with topologies, command-line tasks, and troubleshooting injects. John devised an intricate Computer Programming scenario requiring contestants to design, test, and document production-ready code under a tight deadline. C1’s Rancho Cucamonga lab supplied all switching, routing, and server infrastructure for the cyber event, ensuring every student experienced enterprise-grade environments.
“Without them, we wouldn’t have had a competition,” says Clay Mitchell. “They came at the last minute and picked up pieces that saved us. The next year, they did an amazing job with our students.”
Measuring Impact: When Volunteerism Meets Student Achievement
Numbers only tell half the story, but they are compelling:
- 100 % competition continuity – SkillsUSA California maintained full programming, internetworking, and cybersecurity events, serving hundreds of students who otherwise would have been turned away.
- 15-year milestone – Thanks to Paul’s mentorship, a California student earned second place nationally in internetworking, breaking a decade-and-a-half drought.
- Automatic talent pipeline – Sponsoring companies gain early access to top competitor resumes, accelerating internships and entry-level hiring.
John summarizes it well: “Every student that enters has to submit a resume. Sponsoring companies get access to the top-scoring students’ resumes, creating a direct pipeline from education to employment.”
For K-12 IT departments facing budget constraints and staff shortages, that pipeline is a game-changer. Students graduate not only confident in their technical prowess but also already connected to mentors and employers who understand their skills. The result is a virtuous cycle: districts strengthen program reputations, students land meaningful jobs, and industry gains much-needed talent.
An Information Technology Showcase Event: SkillsUSA Meets the CITE Conference
C1’s commitment extends beyond competition day. During a recent California IT in Education (CITE) conference held at our Rancho Cucamonga office, more than 100 district leaders toured a live SkillsUSA lab. Brochures explained how districts could establish local chapters, while vendor-provided hardware displayed tangible resources available to schools.
“We had a whole display in the lab with brochures and hardware used in the competitions,” John remembers. “It was a great opportunity to pitch SkillsUSA to school districts and get them involved.”
For IT leaders balancing the demands of device refresh cycles, software licensing, and cybersecurity posture assessments, seeing industry and academia collaborate in real time offered a refreshing reminder that mission-aligned partnerships can lighten the load.
Conclusion: Building Futures, One Student at a Time
When students wire their first switch, deploy their first secure Docker container, or debug a stubborn Python loop under competition pressure, they are doing more than earning medals, they are building futures. They are validating classroom theory against real-world demands, forging early professional relationships, and discovering passions that will guide their college and career decisions.
For C1, supporting that journey is not altruism in the abstract; it is a strategic, mission-aligned investment. By empowering students today, we strengthen the talent pipelines that educational institutions and private enterprises alike will rely upon tomorrow. Our partnership with SkillsUSA is a living example of how industry expertise, structured volunteerism, and district vision can converge to produce outcomes that no single entity could achieve alone.
We invite every K-12 IT leader reading this piece to imagine what similar collaborations might unlock in your district. Whether you are ready to launch a new SkillsUSA chapter, scale an existing one, or simply explore volunteer-powered enrichment opportunities, C1 stands ready to help. Together, we can turn classrooms into launchpads, competitions into careers, and aspirations into achievements.
Zeina Ammar
SVP
Public Education