Mariela Ocampo-Guzman discovered SkillsUSA as a high school student in Mid-America Technology Center's horticulture program. Now she is one of the students leading it.
The Lexington High School graduate, who returned to MATC as an adult multimedia student, was one of four students elected to the SkillsUSA state office on Oct. 9. She will serve a one-year term.
Earning a spot on the ballot
The path to state office started with an application, followed by a daylong screening at the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education in Stillwater. Candidates sat for extensive interviews, delivered prepared scripts, and worked through problem-solving exercises, with cuts throughout the day.
The six candidates left standing then campaigned for four open positions at the SkillsUSA state conference for adult and college-level students, held that same week at Meridian Technology Center's South Campus in Guthrie. Each gave a speech to voting delegates from technology centers across Oklahoma.
"Just the thought of speaking to people was nerve-wracking," Ocampo-Guzman said. "But when it was finally time to speak in front of an audience, something changed. All the nerves and worries seemed to fade away, and all the advice and encouragement I had received came back to me."
Where it started
Ocampo-Guzman was introduced to SkillsUSA by her horticulture teacher, Kara Murphy. She competed in landscape design and Job Skill Demonstration before completing the program in 2024.
"If it weren't for Mrs. Murphy, I might have never discovered my love for SkillsUSA in the first place," she said.
When she came back to MATC for multimedia, she knew she wanted to compete again. Then her teacher, Jesse Alvarado, asked if she would consider applying for state office.
"Without a second thought, I said yes!" she said. "I didn't know exactly what I was getting myself into, but I knew I wanted to be involved in SkillsUSA and continue growing."
She credits Alvarado for getting her this far. "His confidence in me is incredible, and his encouragement has helped me believe in myself," she said.
"I am so proud of the hard work and effort Mariela put forth to win a postsecondary state office," said Sara Beth Simonton, MATC student services coordinator. "She will represent MATC so well."
What's next
Ocampo-Guzman is looking forward to getting to know her fellow officers and experiencing SkillsUSA from a new perspective, this time as a leader.
"SkillsUSA has helped me grow in ways I never expected, and I'm incredibly grateful for the people who have encouraged me along the way," she said. "I hope that, through this new role, I can offer that same encouragement to other students and help them discover what they are capable of, just as my instructors have helped me."
Interested in where a program at MATC could take you? Learn more about Horticulture programs at MATC and Multimedia programs at MATC.