Bradley DeMent, a welding and sheet metal instructor at Delaware Area Career Center, was recognized as SkillsUSA’s “Outstanding Career and Technical Educator” before a crowd of 12,000 during the opening ceremony of the 52nd annual SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, this week.

One of SkillsUSA’s highest recognitions, the Educator of the Year is awarded for outstanding teachers who guide SkillsUSA student members to becoming leaders in their chosen fields. Not awarded regularly, the award is only given when the board of directors of SkillsUSA wants to honor an exceptional educator for their service and dedication to career and technical education and SkillsUSA.

DeMent took over the SkillsUSA chapter leadership following the retirement of a colleague. In 2015 he helped the promotional bulletin board team and welding sculpture students make it to state competition, and oversaw the chapter display team as they became national winners.

Founded in 1965, SkillsUSA serves more than 300,000 member students and instructors each year in middle schools, high schools and colleges.