Going Green
SkillsUSA is “going green” all week by adding recycling bins inside and outside of the convention center to help recycle the extra glass, aluminum and paper our conference brings to Kansas City. Also, for the first time, the conference program is printed on recycled paper.

SkillsUSA TECHSPO and Career Fair
“Champions Plaza” [Barney Allis Plaza] will return to the SkillsUSA conference for the fifth year. Champions Plaza-featuring interactive stations, giveaways and contests-will take place outdoors on 13th and Central streets between Wyandotte Street and Broadway Boulevard.
 
Also returning to the conference this year is the SkillsUSA TECHSPO and Career Fair, featuring more than 76,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor exhibit space. TECHSPO and Career Fair will showcase a variety of exhibits including college opportunities, career-training materials, career recruiting services, curriculum materials, fundraising information and new information technology.
 
Indoor exhibitors are located in Lobby 2200, Lobby 2300 and Lobby 2500, including the New Grand Ballroom Plaza. These exhibits will be open to the public, Tuesday, June 23, through Thursday, June 25, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The show concludes at 3 p.m. on the 25th.
 
Road Closings
Please Note: The following roads will be blocked off during the convention due to Champions Plaza:

13th Street between Wyandotte Street and Broadway Boulevard, from 12:01 a.m. June 21 to midnight June 25 and Central Street between 12th and 14th streets from 12:01 a.m. June 21 to midnight June 26. Several lanes around Bartle Hall will be closed for shuttle buses and the loading and unloading of supplies.

Twilight 5K Champions Run on June 24
SkillsUSA will be holding the second annual twilight 5K Champions Run on June 24 in Kansas City during national conference. Managed by the Kansas City Track Club, the run takes place on Wednesday, June 24, 2009 at 7 p.m. at Liberty Memorial Park, across from Union Station and the Westin Hotel. Runners can then proceed right across the street to the Champions Festival.

Registration is $15 per person and includes a t-shirt and a medallion for the first 300 finishers. Runners, joggers, walkers or groups are all welcome. We encourage school groups or instructors to run with their students.

President's Volunteer Service Award
The Presidential Volunteer Service Award is a national honor recognizing sustained service. SkillsUSA is an official certifying organization for this program, now in its second year. This year, Lowe’s has awarded travel scholarships to the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference to those who attain this award.

The following individuals have qualified to receive the President's Service Award in 2009:

Gold
Billy Bauer, Bergen County Academies, Hackensack, N.J.; Jonathan Jones, Southwest Dekalb High School, Decatur, Ga.; Tanesha McArthur, Kendrick High School, Columbus, Ga.; Robert Ockenden, Penfield High School, Penfield, N.Y., Monroe #1 BOCES, Fairport, N.Y.; Kaitlin Tenerella, Cranston, (R.I.) Area Career and Technical Center; Gianna Velino, Cranston (R.I.) Area Career and Technical Center; Laura Woo, Reynolds High School, Troutdale, Ore.; Michelle Woo, Reynolds High School, Troutdale, Ore.

Silver
Corey Walters, Triad High School, Troy, Ill.; Tracy Whitehead, Tennessee Technology Center at Hohenwald.

Bronze
Leah Belogolovsky, Cranston (R.I.) Area Career and Technical Center; Mary Beth Dawson, Cranston (R.I.) Area Career and Technical Center; Eva Kis, Cranston (R.I.) Area Career and Technical Center; Benny Luna, Springdale (Ark.) Public Schools; Dana Marcotte, Cranston (R.I.) Area Career and Technical Center; Aivy Nguyen, Reynolds High, Troutdale, Ore.

For more information about SkillsUSA’s involvement in this program plus details on requirements and the application process, visit: www.skillsusa.org/students/volsvc.shtml

Kansas City Metropolitan Area SkillsUSA Program
SkillsUSA developed the Kansas City Metropolitan Area SkillsUSA program in 2001. It was developed to promote the SkillsUSA program within the metro area for the benefit of local career and technical students. SkillsUSA national staff member, Byekwaso Gilbert runs the year-round program. To date, more than 5,000 students have participated in the program to enhance their personal and professional development. Stronger industry partnerships have been fostered among the metro schools and local employers. Many individual students and instructors have received recognition through the KC Metro SkillsUSA program as well as at the SkillsUSA State Championships in Kansas and Missouri and at the national SkillsUSA Championships held in Kansas City each year. As a result of this collaboration with SkillsUSA, schools have produced better-prepared program graduates who are ready for employment or higher education. For more information, contact Byekwaso Gilbert at 816-374-5416.