SkillsUSA State Conference:
A Showcase of Talent and Skills
April 27-28, 2022
Come out to see our talented Career & Technical Education students showcase their skills and leadership at our annual SkillsUSA State Leadership & Skills Conference, April 27-28.
Most of our skill and leadership events will be held AT the Greensboro Coliseum and the Koury Convention Center.
Watch for a program to be released soon, announcing locations and times for our competitive events.
Events at the Coliseum are open to the general public (as of this announcement), so come see our CTE students in action April 27-28!
For more information, go to our website's Home Page or our State Conference Page .
"Connect to My Future" Registration Closes Soon Connect to My Future FLASH SALE - FREE!!
That's right, CTMF is now FREE for groups of 50 or more.
This conference - with three distinct tracks for middle school, high school and high school seniors/college postsecondary students - was designed to allow students to explore careers and connect with industry.
Industry engagement is an important part of each track. Learn more about which partners will be there and why --
Celebrate Community Contributions During SkillsUSA's National Week of Service - May 8-14
SkillsUSA is asking all chapters to conduct and promote a community service project during SkillsUSA’s National Week of Service, May 8-14. This event helps commemorate the founding of SkillsUSA on May 8, 1965. Connect with SkillsUSA via social media by posting photos of your activities online. Chapter advisors or officers should email a brief description of their chapter events to Gayle Silvey at gsilvey@skillsusa.org. In return, we’ll send a SkillsUSA logo gift item valued at $15 to say thanks.
We encourage participants to publicize your projects locally. To locate media resources for your community, including contact information for area newspapers, use our SkillsUSA Advocacy Site. On the site, click on “Media,” enter your ZIP code, and choose up to six outlets at a time. Then, click on “Send a Message.” To see the full contact information for each outlet, click on the name of the newspaper.
FutureTechs Rock Awards Now Rocking
The TechForce Foundation has opened nominations for their fourth annual FutureTechs Rock Awards, celebrating outstanding students enrolled in transportation technician educational programs.
More than $17,000 in prizes will be awarded to ten student technicians. Nominations remain open until April 19.Find more information here.
Apply for the Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence
Applications are now open for the Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence. The prize recognizes outstanding instruction in the skilled trades in U.S. public high schools and the teachers who inspire students to learn skills to prepare for life after graduation. In 2022, they will award more than $1.25 million in prizes to 20 teachers. In 2021, the prize recognized six SkillsUSA instructors as winners. Applications must be received by May 20. Finalists will be announced on June 27 and winners will be announced in October. Learn more and apply online here.
Help Us Thank Carhartt and TSC for Supporting the Trades
Carhartt and Tractor Supply Company (TSC) recently stepped up with a $100,000 donation to SkillsUSA through their Support the Trades campaign! Now’s the time for SkillsUSA Nation to say thank you with short thank-you videos from SkillsUSA teachers or students. A video submission earns you a spot in a drawing for one of two $50 Amazon gift cards. Find full details and guidelines here. Once you enter your email address and click “Submit” (which will enter you into the drawing), you’ll be taken to a dropbox page where you can upload your video. If you prefer, you can also send your videos via any transfer service directly to Tom Kercheval, SkillsUSA’s director of communications. Videos must be received by April 22, and winners of the gift cards will be announced in early May. Thanks for helping us show these partners how much we appreciate their ongoing support!
Last Call for National Signing Day Registration
We encourage chapters to register soon for SkillsUSA’s National Signing Day on May 5. This event celebrates high school seniors and college/postsecondary students who are pursuing careers as professionals in the skilled trades.
SkillsUSA chapters are encouraged to plan and host a signing day event by inviting business partners, school administrators, teachers, elected officials, SkillsUSA alumni, family and friends to honor students signing “letters of intent” for a job offer, apprenticeship or advanced technical training.
This digital toolkit of resources will help chapters plan their local events. The toolkit includes an event logo, an invitation template, social media posts, a sample press release, thank-you notes, an event planning checklist and more. Registration is open until April 15. We encourage chapters to assign someone to take photos and videos of your Signing Day events and share them with SkillsUSA social media manager Hayley Uffelman.
Upcoming Best Practices Professional Development Opportunities
Please join your fellow advisors on April 13 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. ET for our new best practices series, where seasoned SkillsUSA advisors lead panels focusing on one topic per month. The Best Practices Recognition Ceremony session will focus on how to coach and recognize students for success in career competitions. On May 6, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET, SkillsUSA advisors can learn how to be intentional in their strategic planning by using the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) High Quality Framework. This session will assist advisors in creating program goals for the coming year. A PDF of the 2022 Professional Development Opportunities is available here. You can register for these and more professional membership benefits here. Completion certificates are provided for each session. Use this Google Doc to learn how to access your professional membership benefits online. For questions, contact Karolina Belen.
Facilitating Cloud Technologies on "SkillsUSA Technical Fridays"
Jon us for “SkillsUSA Technical Fridays,” SkillsUSA’s industry-led workshops that help teachers develop specific technical skills relevant to their career fields. On April 29, from 4-5 p.m. ET, the presenter is instructor and textbook author Jill West. Her session will focus on preparing students to work in the cloud as you bring the cloud into the classroom. You’ll also practice building servers in Amazon Web Services. This session is appropriate for all experience levels and the cost to attend is $10. Register here.
Bring Your Musical Talent to NLSC
A new SkillsUSA Talent Program is being launched in conjunction with SkillsUSA’s National Leadership & Skills Conference. Selected members will showcase their musical ability during one of three high-energy arena sessions in front of more than 12,000 SkillsUSA participants from across the country. They may also perform for smaller audiences during the conference.
Students or advisors will receive complimentary conference registration if their sole purpose of attendance is to participate in the Talent Program. SkillsUSA Championships contestants are eligible, but performance opportunities may be limited due to scheduling conflicts. Applicants must be current paid SkillsUSA members and must submit a video file performing a song of choice that demonstrates their musical ability. Individual or group performances are welcome. Apply here by 5 p.m. ET on Friday, April 22. For questions, contact Joey Baker.
SkillsUSA Store Graduation Gift Collection
Graduation season is around the corner, and we have a gift collection that beautifully complements such a special day. When shopping the SkillsUSA Store Graduation Gift Collection, you are sure to find the perfect gifts for students and the advisors who support them!
SkillsUSA Scholarship Opportunities
Applications for several scholarships are now open to benefit SkillsUSA students in pursuit of higher education or certification in their chosen fields. Help spread the word about these opportunities:
Sharon Melton Myers Memorial Scholarship -- Offers two SkillsUSA high school seniors a one-time $1,000 scholarship. Deadline: April 15.
Fine Homebuilding #KeepCraftAlive Scholarship -- Scholarships to SkillsUSA high school or college/postsecondary students continuing their education or certification programs in construction-related fields. Deadline: May 30.
Larry Rash Memorial Scholarship -- Two $2,500 scholarships in 2022 to support active SkillsUSA members who plan to further their education in architectural drafting (or a related field). Deadline: May 31.
Bob Westphal Memorial Scholarship -- Merit-based scholarships to high school or college/postsecondary students continuing their education to pursue a career in energy construction (oil and gas pipelines, gas distribution, solar, and wind). Deadline: May 31.
Clifford T. Rees, Jr. Memorial Scholarship -- Multiple $2,500 scholarships to SkillsUSA high school juniors, seniors or college/postsecondary students in enrolled in a HVACR or a general construction program and who will be pursuing college/postsecondary career training in the HVACR industry. Deadline: May 31.
Student Research Foundation Scholarship -- One scholarship to a SkillsUSA member currently enrolled in high school who plans to continue their education in a postsecondary program. It recognizes outstanding community contribution. Deadline: July 26.
The Horatio Alger Association is offering 500 career and technical education scholarships for College/Postsecondary students at up to $2,500 each through their “Career & Technical Scholarship Program.” The scholarships are awarded to students who’ve faced and overcome great obstacles in their lives and who wish to pursue a career and technical education at an accredited, nonprofit postsecondary institution. Applications are now open, and the deadline is June 15. Scholarships will be awarded on a rolling basis throughout the spring and summer. Visit their website for full information and to apply.
