- On October 21, I met in St. Louis with executives in the Global Opportunities Product Lifecycle Management division of Siemens. The meeting was arranged by board member Cameron Ferguson, Caterpillar, and student national officers Jason Brigner (Region III) and Brandon Mullings (college/postsecondary vice president) made the SkillsUSA presentations to Siemens. We talked about support for the SkillsUSA WorldTeam and getting their support on the Youth Development Foundation, on Championships technical committees and providing subject matter experts for engineering assessments in the Work Force Ready System. They’re very interested in giving software grants to schools.
- We signed an agreement with GAERF (Graphic Arts Education and Research Foundation) to offer five co-branded PrintED/SkillsUSA Skill Connect assessments. The five are graphic communications, advertising design, screen printing, digital file preparation/digital file output and offset press operations/binding and finishing. News releases and official announcements are still being prepared. We’re very enthusiastic about this partnership because we are partnering with THE organization that certifies instructional programs and is recognized by the graphics/printing industry.
- My trip to California on October 16 and 17 went well. I worked with the California board on board training, state association policy and worked with them on strategic planning.
- Development of the instructional program for the Engineering Alliance is going well according to staff. Staff developed the EA logo, and we’re in the process of getting it trademarked.
- According to our marketing director, “Monster Garage” on the Discovery Channel is now talking about having eight SkillsUSA students participate in the programs to be taped at the end of November and possibly airing this coming spring. Thanks go to Lowe’s and Kobalt Tools for making the connections.
- On October 26, staff attended a manufacturing summit in Washington, D.C. hosted by NIMS (National Institute for Metalworking Skills) and the Swiss Embassy. Approximately 80 people attended. A common theme throughout was the frustration of domestic employers – and the disbelief of foreign manufacturers – with the U.S. public education system. “Over and over again we heard: “We want better CTE and we want more CTE.”” Assistant Secretary of Labor Jane Oates spoke during the summit.
- We had a good training seminar on diversity for department directors on October 20 with Ellen Hyslope from Human Resources at Middleburg Bank. Her key message to managers: Make sure you’re focused on creating equal opportunities for all employees.
- The Youth Development Foundation Committee’s spring meeting is scheduled for March 17-18. It will be held here at the national center and there will be a joint session with the board of directors at that same time.
Highlights
November 15th, 2009State Farm Innovation in Sustainability Grants Offered
November 15th, 2009SkillsUSA is pleased to announce a new program with our corporate partner, State Farm Insurance. In the past, State Farm has been committed to teacher development and training. They are increasing their support to SkillsUSA by establishing the Innovation in Sustainability Grant Award Program. The purpose of the Innovation in Sustainability Grant Program is to stimulate student awareness and interest in their environment and provide them with an understanding as well as skills and a voice to make a significant impact in their communities.
SkillsUSA chapters may apply for a State Farm grant of $10,000 to fund a green or sustainable program or project that uses innovation to ensure today’s needs are met without compromising future generations. One grant per State Farm zone (for a total of 12 grants) will be awarded for a project that culminates in a national showcase during the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference June 20-25, 2010.
Each $10,000 grant will designate $7,500 for project expenses and $2,500 in travel expenses to send one advisor and two students to the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in June 2010. Winning chapters will present their projects to a panel of State Farm judges during the conference at the State Farm Showcase in Kansas City in June 2010. A first-place chapter will be selected from the presentations and will receive a $3,000 school award, the second-place chapter will receive a $2,000 school award and the third-place chapter will receive a $1,000 school award, in addition to the $10,000 grants.
Grant Parameters
Schools may apply for grants as a whole school or as an individual training program. Schools may also team up with another SkillsUSA chapter at a different school on a larger project. All trade areas are encouraged to apply for this program – the key to these grants is innovation. Examples of potential projects might be work with alternative fuel sources, recycling programs, construction of renewable energy sources, implementing weatherization projects, developing chemical disposal plans, creating organic food gardens and developing reforestation initiatives. The projects can be anything that is “green” or a sustainable project that uses innovation to insure that today’s needs are met without compromising future generations.
Applications
To apply, schools should submit an application, which is available online or as a PDF document. Electronic applications are preferred, but mailed applications will be accepted. For more information or to access the application, go to: www.skillsusa.org/educators/statefarm.shtml.
Deadline
Applications must be submitted by November 30, 2009. Successful applicants will be notified by January 29, 2010. Projects must be completed by June 1, 2010.
Questions
Please direct all questions on the program to SkillsUSA grant manager Kelly Horton at 402-309-4679 or email: khorton@skillsusa.org.
Thank you for sharing this exciting new program with your local chapter advisors!
Highlights
November 1st, 2009- I’m delighted to report that Niki Clausen will be our new full-time alumni coordinator. Niki will start in her new position on November 2. She brings a wealth of background and experience as a former SkillsUSA national officer, a culinary teacher, a SkillsUSA chapter advisor, Oregon state association director and as a member of the national alumni coordinating council. Thanks go to both Lowe’s and Air Products for their support in making this happen.
- The October 6 ACTE (Association for Career and Technical Education) “Cooking Up a Future” Congressional Reception on Capitol Hill was quite successful this year. According to ACTE, at least four members of Congress and staff from over 100 congressional offices attended during the two-hour event. SkillsUSA was one of four student organizations participating and the only one doing a demonstration. Thanks to Chef Christine Gloninger and Chef Frans Hagen, three students from Annandale High School were preparing and serving crepes to the guests. They ran the exhibit to visit and everyone did.
- We had a great conference call with Brian Spiro and Tim Humes of Carhartt to discuss their future support for SkillsUSA including Carhartt becoming a clothing supplier through E-Group.
- During our meeting on October 13, the Architectural Woodwork Institute committed to increasing its support for SkillsUSA and helping form new chapters in states where AWI has member companies.
- The Senate confirmed Brenda Dann-Messier on October 5 to be the new assistant secretary for vocational adult education in the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE). The assistant secretary has a strong commitment to adult learning and helping students to transition into postsecondary education. We look forward to working with her.
Delmar Cengage Learning Green Challenge
October 15th, 2009One of our sponsors, Delmar Cengage Learning has developed an online Green Challenge Quiz for SkillsUSA students only. The top scorer of this quiz will enter their teacher into a drawing for a $500 American Express gift card. State association directors… please pass this information on to your advisors so they don’t miss this opportunity to win some “green” by showing off how green their students are! To take the quiz, go to http://cengagelearning.aptaracorp.com/CGI/
Highlights
September 15th, 2009* We had a great Youth Development Foundation meeting in Calgary with some excellent discussion on the value of partnership with SkillsUSA and corporate reports on their activities. Board members including President Julie Yeater, Larry Rabalais, Russ Hoffbauer and Nick Morrisroe joined the YDF meeting. The board and YDF dinner was sponsored by Woodwork Career Alliance.
* Thanks to Russ Hoffbauer and Alan Hall, on August 27 we held what I hope was a very successful meeting with executives from State Farm Insurance Companies. New national officers Zia Green and Stephen Lupton gave what I consider one of the most powerful presentations I’ve ever seen by two of our students. Much of our focus was on community service, and Zia arrived with a portfolio of the work done in her instructor’s class – Advisor of the Year 2008 Cheryl Reese – and everyone was impressed. State Farm expressed interest in community development, continuing its support for teacher training and field staff, alumni and the WorldSkills Competition.
* The new SkillsUSA Store received its official launch with an e-mail promotion to just about everyone in SkillsUSA. The site is http://www.skillsusastore.org/skillsusa/welcome.asp.
* And, thanks to several people with cameras at the WorldSkills Competition and Webmaster Craig Moore, it is possible to see some of the excitement of SkillsUSA WorldTeam http://www.skillsusa.org/compete/worldteam.shtml. There’s also a special section on news coverage up to this point.
- We had a great Youth Development Foundation meeting in Calgary with some excellent discussion on the value of partnership with SkillsUSA and corporate reports on their activities. Board members including President Julie Yeater, Larry Rabalais, Russ Hoffbauer and Nick Morrisroe joined the YDF meeting. The board and YDF dinner was sponsored by Woodwork Career Alliance.
- Thanks to Russ Hoffbauer and Alan Hall, on August 27 we held what I hope was a very successful meeting with executives from State Farm Insurance Companies. New national officers Zia Green and Stephen Lupton gave what I consider one of the most powerful presentations I’ve ever seen by two of our students. Much of our focus was on community service, and Zia arrived with a portfolio of the work done in her instructor’s class – Advisor of the Year 2008 Cheryl Reese – and everyone was impressed. State Farm expressed interest in community development, continuing its support for teacher training and field staff, alumni and the WorldSkills Competition.
- The new SkillsUSA Store received its official launch with an e-mail promotion to just about everyone in SkillsUSA. The site is www.skillsusastore.org/skillsusa/welcome.asp.
- And, thanks to several people with cameras at the WorldSkills Competition and SkillsUSA’s Webmaster, it is possible to see some of the excitement of SkillsUSA’s WorldTeam in action: www.skillsusa.org/compete/worldteamphotos.shtml. There’s also a special section on news coverage up to this point.
Highlights
September 1st, 2009We held nearly two full-day meetings with intelitek here at the national center to discuss progress on Skill Connect Assessments, including the status of each assessment and the roll out of the next series of tests. There’s no doubt that SkillsUSA is receiving enthusiastic responses from across the country; but, we’re still at work on details for several of the tests to be sure pilot testing is complete in time for projected test launch. We spent most of Thursday working on the business and marketing plans, including staffing. On Wednesday, we had a conference call at the request of a state department of education to answer questions on the delivery of the assessments on a statewide basis.
On August 27, I had a meeting at State Farm, thanks to board member Russ Hoffbauer. New national officers Zia Green and Stephen Lupton accompanied me. I met with Cameron Ferguson and one of Caterpillar’s worldwide talent recruiters for breakfast that morning. And, while I’m mentioning great partnership supporters, staff recently returned from a one-day trip to Allentown, Pa., where they met with executives from Air Products. They said it was a very productive meeting with lots of discussion about alumni membership among many other things.
The letters to Congress and the governors about their SkillsUSA Championships champions and Skill Point Certificate recipients have all been sent, and we’re getting responses asking for student home addresses. We have some state association directors who have caught on that this is a great excuse to pay a visit to the governors’ offices. We love it. SkillsUSA is building networks to support our students all the time.
Harley-Davidson Raffle Winner
June 30th, 2009Once again, thanks to a generous donation by Harley-Davidson Motor Co., Inc., we held a special raffle for a 2009 Dyna® Super Glide® Motorcycle at the 2009 NLSC Awards Ceremony on Friday, June 26 in Kansas City, Mo.
As a special addition to the raffle, Harley-Davidson teamed up with PPG American and Sharpe Manufacturing Company to bring Justin Barnes to Kansas city to custom-paint the bike. You may know Justin of JB Grafix from his appearances on The Discovery Channel program, American Chopper.
The winner of the custom-painted Dyna Super Glide is Kevin Miller of Senatobia, Miss. The finished bike is below.
Here is Kevin with Justin Barnes, Cheri Judkins of Harley-Davidson and me:
A drawing was also held for three prize packs provided by Sharpe Manufacturing. The following people were awarded the prize packs, valued at $2,800!
Linda Lavender of Virginia Beach, Va.
Curt Glass of Orr, Minn.
Guy Powers of Palm City, Fla.
Congratulations Kevin, Linda, Curt and Guy. And a special thank you to Harley-Davidson, Sharpe and PPG!
Follow Me to SkillsUSA
June 22nd, 2009There’s already a lot happening at our National Conference, even though a lot of people are still getting here and registering today.
Our State Officer and Advisor 101/201 group will finish up their training sessions today. This is our biggest group ever and they are doing a wonderful job preparing to be national and state leaders.
As you may already know, the U.S. Army is a big supporter of SkillsUSA. They also have a very large space in our TECHSPO exhibits. We noticed the truck they brought to Kansas City had a great SkillsUSA promotion on the back. They drove all the way to Kansas City with this on the back of their truck. The picture is below.
Jamie McMurray’s Car to Include SkillsUSA Logo
June 15th, 2009IRWIN will run No. 26 IRWIN VISE-GRIP Ford Fusion, driven by Jamie McMurray, at the Toyota/SaveMart 350 in Sonoma with the SkillsUSA logo on the decklid. The race will take place on Sunday, June 21 at 4:30 p.m. (EDT)
Check it out here:
Meet Rising NASCAR Driver Peyton Sellers and Support SkillsUSA
June 15th, 2009Meet rising NASCAR driver Peyton Sellers and support SkillsUSA
Through our partnership with Jig-A-Loo USA, NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Peyton Sellers will be attending our national conference this month. He will be present at the Jig-A-Loo TECHSPO exhibit where autographed limited edition die cast replicas of the car Peyton drove in Daytona with the SkillsUSA logo on it will be available for purchase.
Not able to attend conference? You can still support SkillsUSA and Peyton by purchasing a die cast car online here: www.skillsusa.org/students/peytonsellers.shtml.
Proceeds directly benefit SkillsUSA and our partnership with Peyton Sellers.
