Executive Update 14-18 March 15, 2018 To: State Association Directors National Corporate Members Board of Directors SkillsUSA Foundation Inc. National Officers Alumni Executive Board SkillsUSA Executive Committee SkillsUSA Technical Committee Conference Management Committee Important Dates March 15 March 21-22 May 7-11 SkillsUSA Foundation Meeting, Plano, Texas SkillsUSA Board of Directors Meeting, Tucson, Ariz. SkillsUSA National Week of Service In This Issue Executive Director s Report 2018 National Week of Service Challenges Members to Show Off Your Skills Apply for a #KeepCraftAlive Scholarship of $2,500 mikeroweworks Offers Travel Scholarships for Competitors Keep Up with Scholarships Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Raffle is Here Again! SkillsUSA Championships Clothing and Tools App Updated National Conference Anthem Singer, Pin Design and T-Shirt Winners Announced SkillsUSA University Proposals Needed
Earn Presidential Honors Annual Corporate Form Update Needed Soon State Offices to Receive PDP International Degree Materials Alumni Executive Board Seeks Nominees Alumni Association Announces Awards Availability Reminder: Advocacy Tools Help You Invite Officials, Promote State Conferences Due Dates Staff Travel EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR S REPORT Celebrating International Women s Day with Facebook Live On March 8 at 6 p.m., TV host Kayleen McCabe and SkillsUSA national officer and machine tool technology student Maci Key had a Facebook Live conversation about women in the skilled trades to celebrate International Women s Day. They both did an outstanding job. They encouraged students and instructors to provide greater exposure of career options for all interested students including talking more about specific careers and holding more open house events. The broadcast had 4,400 unique viewers reached. If you weren t able to see it, watch the archive at: www.facebook.com/skillsusa/. USDOE Tweets about SkillsUSA On Feb. 21, the U.S. Department of Education tweeted a video of our national officers meeting with Secretary Betsy DeVos and linked directly to our profile. The USDOE has 1.2 million followers, which is great exposure for SkillsUSA and our national officers. They did an excellent job during their interviews for this video. Here s a link to the tweet: https://twitter.com/usedgov/status/966354138111119360. 10-Hour OSHA Credentials Card Carriers Reach 1 Million From Feb. 21-22, I traveled to Austin, Texas, and attended a K2Share event celebrating 1 million students going through the CareerSafe program to receive their 10-hour OSHA credential. K2Share president and CEO Larry Teverbaugh and his staff attended, along with the career and technical education director of the Austin Independent School District, students and teachers from several local career and technical education programs, as well as representatives from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott s office, the local Occupational Safety and Health Administration office and the Texas Engineering Extension Service. Two of our Texas state officers were the masters of ceremonies for this special event. I was honored to receive one of three founder s awards presented there. The original idea for the CareerSafe program was conceived in our building in 2002, and it has
been an amazing success since. State SkillsUSA director Janet Conner also received a partner award. It was great to spend some time with Janet and her husband, Pat. Presentation Fills Room at Contractors Convention On Feb. 25-28, I attended the Distributive Contractor s Association (DCA) Convention in Dana Point, Calif. DCA member contractors build, maintain and repair the 2.2 million miles of pipeline for natural gas underneath the ground in this country. Huge contractors and heavy equipment manufacturers attended, and some of the major sponsors for their events included Caterpillar, John Deere, Case Equipment and Ditch Witch. The first evening included a president s dinner at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library, and the second night we had dinner at the mission at San Juan Capistrano. DCA s capstone event was a charity auction that raised over a million dollars for its scholarship fund. Mike Rowe was the keynote for the breakfast before the auction and said some kind words about SkillsUSA. At the end of his presentation, DCA presented a $20,000 check to be used for the mikeroweworks scholarship fund to assist students in the skilled trades to travel to our National Leadership and Skills Conference this June. Following the Mike Rowe keynote, I led a town hall meeting that centered on workforce development. There was standing room only in the session. As we normally hear, workforce development or finding skilled trades talent for their worker pipeline was the biggest issue. I received some very positive feedback from the presentation. I made some incredible contacts, and I think we ll see some good support to come from this group. HIGHLIGHTS Feb. 16-19, SkillsUSA hosted a National Certified Trainer session in Atlanta with 26 participants from 12 states. There were two separate tracks. The foundation track focused on facilitation techniques and the SkillsUSA Framework. The SkillsUSA Career Essentials suite track took a deep dive into the Foundations, Experiences and Assessments. All participants came away equipped with the competence and materials to conduct training in their state associations. On Feb. 20, staff member Gene Dudley held meetings with Ashley Brown, SkillsUSA Georgia high school state association director, and Georgia Department of Education career and technical student organization staff to discuss the potential implementation of the SkillsUSA Career Essentials suite. On Feb. 21, Gene met with Tjazha Mazhani, SkillsUSA Georgia Postsecondary state director. He also presented at the Alabama Career Development Conference at Calhoun Community College in Decatur, Ala.
That s it for now. Thanks for all you do for the great students and teachers we serve. 2018 National Week of Service Challenges Members to Show Off Your Skills State association directors, please pass the word: This year s SkillsUSA National Week of Service will be sponsored by Stanley Black & Decker. The event will be held May 7-11, and SkillsUSA chapters will have an opportunity to be rewarded. To qualify, SkillsUSA advisors must register as a participating chapter in the National Week of Service. The first 50 advisors who register their chapter plus 15 or more of their students who register will receive a Drill and Impact Driver Combo Kit from Stanley Black & Decker (skillsusa-register.org/signup). All students participating in the chapter event must register individually to receive a free T-shirt (skillsusaregister.org/signup). Stanley Black & Decker is sponsoring a Show Off Your Skills challenge where chapters will have an opportunity to compete for a grand prize of $10,000 and four finalist prizes of $4,000 each. Additionally, the state association of the winning chapter will receive a grant for $2,500 in appreciation for its efforts in encouraging chapters to participate. To participate, chapters must produce a 60-second video for social media that highlights the community service they performed during the National Week of Service and the specific trade skills used. There are no limits to video creativity as long as chapters clearly identify how their skills were used in service to others. Contest entries will be accepted from May 7 (9 a.m. EDT) until May 11 (11 p.m. EDT). A SkillsUSA panel will select the five finalists. Those chapter videos will be posted on May 14 for a communitywide vote via social media to determine the grand-prize winner. The winner will be announced on May 18, with an awards presentation the following week at the winning school. For more information about the SkillsUSA Week of Service, go to: www.skillsusa.org/events-training/national-week-of-service/. Registration opens April 2. Apply for a #KeepCraftAlive Scholarship of $2,500 Fine Homebuilding Magazine, through a partnership with SkillsUSA, will award a minimum of 12 scholarship awards of $2,500 each. Applicants must be SkillsUSA high
school or postsecondary students who are continuing their education or certification programs in construction-related fields. In the spirit of the #KeepCraftAlive movement, applicants should celebrate the value and meaning of true craftsmanship in their trades and plan to continue their educations in community colleges, undergraduate programs or industry certification curricula. Fine Homebuilding will award the scholarships to students in fields such as architectural drafting, carpentry, cabinetmaking, electrical and residential wiring, HVACR, masonry, woodworking and plumbing for the 2018-19 academic year. Selections will be based on completion of an application and a 300-word essay showing applicants passion for their craft, along with a letter of support from a teacher, administrator, SkillsUSA advisor or educational/professional mentor. To apply, use the form at: https://skillsusa.wufoo.com/forms/keepcraftalivescholarship/. The deadline for applications is April 25. If you have questions, contact Susanne Kahler at 703-737-0616 or skahler@skillsusa.org. This is the second year for the scholarship initiative. For more information about #KeepCraftAlive, visit: www.keepcraftalive.org/ mikeroweworks Offers Travel Scholarships for Competitors The mikeroweworks Foundation will again offer scholarships for SkillsUSA student members to attend the National Leadership and Skills Conference in Louisville, Ky., June 25-29. This is the eighth consecutive year the mikeroweworks Foundation has offered travel scholarships for SkillsUSA members who compete and place first in their state championships and who otherwise would not be able to attend the national championships for financial reasons. This year s scholarships will focus on high-school and college/postsecondary students working primarily toward careers in manufacturing, construction, transportation, electronics and other program areas where a skills gap exists; a written application that includes financial need and SkillsUSA involvement. Applicants must also provide a recommendation from a SkillsUSA member instructor or state association director. Applicants must apply online at: www.skillsusa.org/membershipresources/scholarships-financial-aid/the-mikeroweworks-foundation-competitorscholarship/. Scholarship applications must be received by May 15 (midnight EDT). Keep Up with Scholarships
Scholarship opportunities are among the greatest benefits of student membership in SkillsUSA. Students must be active, dues-paid SkillsUSA members to be eligible for a scholarship through SkillsUSA or its partners. Scholarships are offered in several areas. Some are based on merit, others are related to financial need, and many are presented to the medalists of SkillsUSA Championships at the state and national levels. To see these and other opportunities, go to: www.skillsusa.org/membershipresources/scholarships-financial-aid/. Please share these opportunities with your students. For more information, contact Susanne Kahler at skahler@skillsusa.org or 703-737-0616. Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Raffle is Here Again! SkillsUSA will raffle a 2018 Street Bob motorcycle at the national conference Awards Ceremony on Friday, June 29 in Louisville, Ky. This event, made possible thanks to a donation by Harley-Davidson Motor Co. Inc., will benefit the SkillsUSA Alumni and Friends Association. The motorcycle features a two-tone paint scheme called Wicked Red/Twisted Cherry. Tickets are $5 each or five tickets for $20 (a shipping and handling fee of $1 will be added to online orders). The winner does not need to be present for the drawing, but is responsible for picking up the motorcycle at a local Harley-Davidson dealer in his or her community. Please note: The motorcycle cannot be shipped to the U.S. Virgin Islands. Go to: http://bit.ly/harleyraffle18 to get your tickets. For questions regarding the raffle fundraiser, email Taryn Zeigler at tzeigler@skillsusa.org. SkillsUSA Championships Clothing and Tools App Updated SkillsUSA has updated the SkillsUSA: Clothing and Tools app for the 2018 SkillsUSA Championships. For each contest, the app includes an overview, eligibility and clothing requirements, and safety guidelines. It also lists the tools, equipment and materials that contestants must provide. The app is free for students, instructors and SkillsUSA business partners and is available in both the Apple Store: http://apple.co/2dtlb8d and the Google Play Store: http://bit.ly/2e5frec. The app was created and sponsored by SkillsUSA partner Pearson. Note: This student resource that does not replace the SkillsUSA Championships Technical Standards. The app connects users to SkillsUSA s membership site, where educators must join as professional members to receive the full book at no charge.
National Conference Anthem Singer, Pin Design and T-Shirt Winners Announced Singing the national anthem at the opening ceremony of SkillsUSA s national conference will be Inayah Mason, a cosmetology student from T.H. Badger Technology Center in Onley, Va. Her advisor is Catherine Deangelis. This year s winner of the pin design challenge for the conference is Brianna Gozun, a graphic design student at the Career Academy at Anthis in Fort Wayne, Ind. Her advisor is Karen Gillie. This year s winner of the conference s T-shirt design challenge is Sebastian Cortez, a graphic design student at Combs High School in San Tan Valley, Ariz. His advisor is Paul Schreel. SkillsUSA University Proposals Needed Are you at the top of your game? The pinnacle of your career? A leader in your industry? On the verge of great discovery? Are you willing to share the wit and wisdom you have gained with others? If so, we want you! SkillsUSA invites you to share your dynamic, innovative and thematically timely presentation with our SkillsUSA student members, business partners and conference attendees at the 2018 SkillsUSA University. All sessions will take place June 27, 28 and 29 in the West Hall of the Kentucky Exposition Center (KEC). The session leader could be a local advisor covering best practices, or it could be an expert in the subject area of local chapter activities, fundraising, community service, SkillsUSA Program of Work success stories, business etiquette, communication skills for students or local industry partnerships. If you do not want to present, but you have suggestions for workshop topics, please feel free to forward them to us. Please complete and submit online the 2018 SkillsUSA University Request-for- Presentation Proposal by March 30. For more information, go to: www.skillsusa.org/events-training/national-leadership-and-skills-conference/trainingopportunities/skillsusa-university/ or contact Stephanie Bland at 703-737-0622 or sbland@skillsusa.org. Earn Presidential Honors
SkillsUSA is a certifying organization of the President s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA), a presidential honor that recognizes the valuable contributions of volunteers across the country who are answering a national call to serve others through their current activities or lifetime efforts. As a certifying organization, SkillsUSA can identify eligible recipients, verify their service hours and distribute the award to outstanding volunteers including advisors, student members and registered alumni. Documented participation in ongoing service activities means that many advisors and students may already meet the requirements to receive the award. To qualify, submit a record of service hours. State SkillsUSA directors may also document service hours and apply for the award. PVSA recipients will be honored at NLSC. For details on qualifying hours and requirements for submission, visit: www.skillsusa.org/membership-resources/awards/presidents-volunteer-service-award. Applications must be received by March 30. Annual Corporate Form Update Needed Soon State association directors: The annual corporate form and instructions have been uploaded to your website at: www.skillsusa.org/directors/. Please fill out the form and return to Sandy Moore by fax to 703-777-8999, or scan your document and email it to smoore@skillsusa.org. Forms can also be mailed to Sandy Moore, SkillsUSA, 14001 SkillsUSA Way, Leesburg, VA 20176. Returning this form ensures your state s vote at the corporate meeting this June in Louisville. If you have returned your form to Sandy and have not received a reply back, it is possible your form was not received, and you should contact her as soon as possible. Forms are due by April 13. State Offices to Receive PDP International Degree Materials International Degree (Level 6 of SkillsUSA s Professional Development Program) applications and portfolios must be submitted to state SkillsUSA offices. The state association PDP review committee will review all materials, determine the candidates eligibility and forward the application and portfolio to the national headquarters by May 1. For International Degree guidelines, contact Stephanie Bland at 703-737- 0622 or email sbland@skillsusa.org. Alumni Executive Board Seeks Nominees
SkillsUSA is accepting nominations of qualified alumni for service on the Alumni Executive Board. Open positions include chair elect/chair, secretary and representatives for Regions 2 and 4. All nominees must be active annual, lifetime or honorary life members of the SkillsUSA Alumni and Friends Association. In addition, a nominee must be an active member for at least 12 months preceding the date of nomination. Nominations must be submitted to the national headquarters by April 2. You may nominate yourself or any alumni member. If you have questions, email Taryn Zeigler at tzeigler@skillsusa.org. To complete the online nomination form, go to: www.surveymonkey.com/r/2018alumninom. Alumni Association Announces Awards Availability The SkillsUSA Alumni and Friends Association will present two awards at the National Leadership and Skills Competition in Louisville, Ky.: The Pioneer of Excellence Award recognizes an alumni member or business and industry partner who has been a Pioneer of Excellence for over five years for the alumni association The Outstanding Alumni and Friends Achievement Award is for an alumni members or business and industry partner who has demonstrated a Commitment of Excellence for up to five years for the alumni association To nominate someone or apply, download the nomination instructions at: www.skillsusa.org/alumni-pioneer-excellence-award-outstanding-alumni-friendsachievement-award/ Applications must be received by April 16. Please mail to: SkillsUSA Alumni Executive Board, c/o Taryn Zeigler, 14001 SkillsUSA Way, Leesburg, VA 20176. Reminder: Advocacy Tools Help You Invite Officials, Promote State Conferences State association directors: Inviting elected officials and media to your state championships is an important way to spotlight your state s SkillsUSA program. This will help legislators and reporters see firsthand the competitions showcasing career and technical education, and motivate them to promote and support your program. A sample invitation for elected officials and a sample news release to alert the news media about your state conference is located here: http://bit.ly/2gszvyk. Be sure to invite your state and local policymakers, members of the media, industry supporters
and the local chambers of commerce. The SkillsUSA advocacy site has been expanded with more state contacts including your governor, lieutenant governor, state senators and representatives, state attorneys general and other local officials. To contact any of these individuals, go to: www.cqrcengage.com/skillsusa/ and click on Write to your State Legislator. On the advocacy site, there is a news release fill-in template for state conference participants and others to tell their local media about their accomplishments. Parents, instructors or students can send an email to up to five media outlets at a time. Please continue to share this important resource with advisors. For these tools and more, go to: www.cqrcengage.com/skillsusa/. If you have questions, please contact Jane Short at 703-737-0612 or jshort@skillsusa.org. Due Dates March 30 March 30 March 30 May 15 April 1 April 1 April 1 April 2 April 2 April 13 April 15 April 16 April 25 April 27 May 1 May 1 May 11 May 18 May 18 May 18 May 18 May 18 June 1 President s Volunteer Service Award submissions due SkillsUSA Public Relations Challenge ends SkillsUSA University proposals due mikeroweworks Scholarship applications due National Technical Honor Society scholarship applications due State deadline to advance Gold Chapter of Distinction applications for selection as Models of Excellence Student2Student Mentoring entries due Alumni Executive Board nominations due Hypertherm s Spark Something Great grant applications due Annual Corporate Form due Sharon Melton Myers Memorial Scholarship application due Pioneer of Excellence Award and outstanding Alumni and Friends Achievement Award applications deadline Fine Homebuilding Scholarship applications due Activate and Leverage Training Scholarship applications due Professional Development Program International Degree applications and portfolio due Marsha Daves Memorial Scholarship applications due National Week of Service/Stanley Black & Decker Show Off Your Skills challenge entries due Hotel planner to Louisville Housing Bureau National Leadership and Skills Conference registration due Activate, Leverage and Engage registration due State association NLSC registration appointment request due State hotel delegation reservations due Collision Repair Education Foundation school makeover grant
June 1 July 20 deadline GAERF Student Design Competition entries due Washington Leadership Training Institute Student Leadership Scholarship applications due Staff Travel March March 15 March 15-18 March 20 March 21-22 March 21-25 April April 3 April 4-5 April 4-6 April 5-6 April 9-10 April 10-14 April 11-13 April 12-13 April 15-20 April 17 April 19-21 April 20 April 21-25 April 23-24 April 23-28 Plano, Texas/SkillsUSA Foundation meeting at Toyota headquarters/tim Lawrence and select staff St. Louis, Mo./national officer and NLSC meetings/ Courtney Ferrell and Heidi Walsh Tucson, Ariz./meetings at Pima Community College Tucson, Ariz./SkillsUSA Board of Directors meeting/select staff Atlanta/Georgia High School State Leadership and Skills Conference and WorldSkills Flag Ceremony/Gene Dudley, Heidi Walsh and Tim Lawrence Newport News, Va./Partnership meeting with Ferguson/ Christa Floresca Burlington, Vt./Vermont State Leadership and Skills Conference/Tim Lawrence Washington, D.C./Advance CTE spring meeting/gene Dudley Avon, Colo./NCCER spring board meeting/tim Lawrence Louisville, Ky./Meeting with AXXIS/Heidi Walsh Albuquerque, N.M./New Mexico State Leadership and Skills Conference/Lee Ross Huntsville, Ala./WorldSkills expert training/heidi Walsh, Christa Floresca and Dave Worden Sioux Falls, S.D./South Dakota advisor training/courtney Ferrell Colorado Springs, Colo./Colorado State Leadership and Skills Conference/Tim Lawrence Atlanta/Mercedes-Benz presentation/christa Floresca Yakima, Wash./SkillsUSA Washington advisor training/ Courtney Ferrell Virginia Beach, Va./Virginia State Leadership and Skills Conference/Lee Ross Casper, Wyo./Wyoming State Leadership and Skills Conference/Lee Ross Birmingham, Ala./Alabama State Leadership and Skills Conference/Tim Lawrence Marlborough, Mass./Massachusetts State Leadership and Skills
April 25-26 April 25-27 April 29-May 2 May May 2-4 May 16-18 Conference/Shelly Coates Houston/NCCER Workforce Development meeting/ Christa Floresca Hutchinson, Kan./Kansas State Leadership and Skills Conference/Tim Lawrence Pensacola, Fla./Florida State Leadership and Skills Conference/Tim Lawrence Pensacola, Fla./site visit/ashley Ridgeway Atlanta/Site Visit/Tim Lawrence, Ashley Ridgeway, Sandy Moore and Shelly Coates