Edison Honored for Student-Led Diversity and Leadership
Thomas Edison High School of Technology has been named a 2026 SkillsUSA National Models of Excellence recipient for its outstanding achievement in advancing workplace skills through student-led multicultural programming that promotes unity, leadership and real-world career readiness. Edison is one of 24 schools in the nation — and one of only two in Maryland — to receive this recognition.
The Models of Excellence designation is the highest level of achievement within SkillsUSA, a national organization that partners with industry and career and technical education (CTE) programs to prepare students for the workforce. To reach this level, chapters must first earn recognition as a Chapter of Excellence at the state level by demonstrating growth in one of the SkillsUSA Framework components: technical, workplace or professional skills. Edison’s chapter steadily built toward national recognition, earning a Bronze Chapter of Excellence award in 2024 and Silver in 2025 before being selected for the Models of Excellence honor this year.
Edison’s work focused on the Workplace Skills component, specifically, multicultural sensitivity and awareness. At the heart of this success is a strong student leadership team that designed and implemented a yearlong series of inclusive, community-building activities. Students organized heritage month celebrations leading up to the end of semester “Unity Bash,” bringing together students, staff and industry partners for celebrations of culture through performances, food and team-building experiences.
Teachers collaborated by designing daily warmups, elevating different identity groups' contributions to the careers that are taught at Edison. Students collected peer feedback to coordinate the weeklong activities that included trivia events, gratitude activities, collaboration with industry partners, cultural food sales and cultural performances. Through this work, students strengthened essential skills, such as communication, decision making, teamwork, organizing and management, and leadership.
“This national recognition reflects our ongoing commitment to diversity and excellence in career-based education,” said Program Coordinator Heather Bradley. “Our students demonstrated leadership and visionary thinking by engaging our thousand-person chapter in student-driven diversity programming throughout the school year.”
Edison students will be honored at the Maryland SkillsUSA Championships this weekend, where 152 students will compete for the opportunity to advance to the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta in June.