DelBonis elected as state rep in SkillsUSA competition

By Jen Cowart
Posted 4/4/18

By JEN COWART Destinee DelBonis, a sophomore at Cranston High School West and first year Medical Pathways student at the Cranston Area Career and Technical Center (CACTC), has been elected as Rhode Island's representative for SkillsUSA and will be

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DelBonis elected as state rep in SkillsUSA competition

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Destinee DelBonis, a sophomore at Cranston High School West and first year Medical Pathways student at the Cranston Area Career and Technical Center (CACTC), has been elected as Rhode Island’s representative for SkillsUSA and will be traveling to Louisville, Kentucky this summer, alongside many of her peers who will be competing there.

DelBonis arrived at her decision to run for an elected position as she considered competing in this year’s events. “I originally wanted to compete in the Prepared Speech category at the state competition,” she said. “I am a strong public speaker and I am not afraid to speak in front of large groups. My teacher, Ms. Coppa, recognized that I was a good leader and that my skills were more advanced, and she recommended that I run for an elected position as the RI State Representative. I decided to focus on that instead, and not compete in the competition.”

DelBonis attended the SkillsUSA spring leadership conference where she competed against another CACTC student for the position. “We had to give a two minute speech as to why we think we should be the representative from Cranston,” she said. “There were students from many other Career and Technical schools in the state and everyone voted.” DelBonis was elected to a one-year term.

“I ran early,” she said. “Many who run are juniors, but I’m a sophomore and I did it now because I hope that I can keep running. Next year I’d like to be president and the following year I’d like to run for national office when I’m a senior.”

At this summer’s conference in Louisville, DelBonis will have the opportunity to spend her days in conferences, meetings and workshops, working alongside the other state representatives from all across the country.

“It’s like one big leadership workshop,” she said.

DelBonis feels that much of what she does outside of school also helped to contribute to her skills and ability to win this position. “I am a lector at my church, I’m involved in theater, and I’ve been public speaking since I can remember,” she said. “Although part of me was a little bit nervous about running, I felt confident that I could win, and I was ready to do it.”

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