SkillsUSA sponsors a national recognition program based on the Student2Student mentoring program. Any chapter involved in mentoring can submit its project plan, description and outcomes. The winning chapter will be given a cash prize, recognized at the National Leadership and Skills Conference, in Awards and Recognition booklet and at an event during the conference. In addition, the overall winning chapter will be invited to present its winning mentoring program as a part of SkillsUSA University. For more information, go to: www.skillsusa.org/educators/mentrecog.shtml. All entries must be submitted online to the national office by April 4. Winners will be announced in May.
Student2Student Mentoring Program
February 14th, 2013Alumni Pin Contest Reminder
February 15th, 2011The SkillsUSA Alumni and Friends Association is sponsoring a Pin Design Contest again this year. The winning design will become the official Alumni Pin for the 2011 National Leadership and Skills Conference. The deadline for pin designs to be received by the national office is March 1. If you have any questions, please contact Niki Clausen at nclausen@skillsusa.org or call 703-737-0639. For more information and contest guidelines, go to: www.skillsusa.org/supporters/alumni.shtml.
2010 Champion of the Year
May 1st, 2010On April 13, I was honored to participate in a special press conference at the corporate headquarters of Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. in Allentown, Pa. Local dignitaries attending included representatives from the Chamber of Commerce, the Lehigh Valley SkillsUSA Industry Council and a select group of Air Products employees. I was honored to introduce two students from the Lehigh Career and Technical Institute, Brittany Kistler, a Small Engines student and Smanatha Cancro, a Culinary Arts student. Brittany and Samantha spoke to the group and talked about the positive difference SkillsUSA had made in their lives. Laurie Gostly- Hackett and Youth Development Foundation member Lynn Scheitrum were key in organizing the event.
At the press conference, I announced that SkillsUSA has chosen John E. McGlade, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Air Products, to be the recipient of the inaugural SkillsUSA CEO Champion of the Year award. The CEO Champion award will be given each year to recognize the leadership of the chief executive of an organization doing exemplary work in the creation and support of America’s highly skilled workforce. The award will also recognize CEOs for their corporation’s involvement in promoting and supporting career and technical education.
Under McGlade’s leadership, Air Products has integrated support for SkillsUSA in a number of ways with employees from around the country serving on technical committees for the SkillsUSA Championships, and on task forces and boards of state and local SkillsUSA chapters in California, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Texas. Air Products’ employees are active in judging local, state and national student competitions, and with the SkillsUSA Youth Development Foundation. The company provides financial support for SkillsUSA initiatives such as the Professional Development Program, and is helping SkillsUSA build its national network through support of the Alumni & Friends Association. Yet another form of support from Air Products has been a best practice guidebook developed by employees to help the organization better forge business/education partnerships with career and technical schools around the country.
Two television stations covered the press conference and you can see a sample of the TV coverage of the event here: www.wfmz.com/news/23141916/detail.html
SkillsUSA issued a press release regarding the award and it can be accessed here: www.skillsusa.org/downloads/PDF/newsroom/AirProductsChampionoftheYear.pdf
To see a video of the entire press conference, see below:
Champions Festival
May 1st, 2010The new location for Champions Festival will be in the Living Room of the Power & Light District in downtown Kansas City. The event is scheduled from 7-10 p.m. on Tuesday, June 22, and is the first official overall conference event of the week. State delegations are encouraged to arrive at Power & Light (P&L) early enough to have dinner and tour the district before the start of the festival. Bus transportation will be provided from all outlying hotels beginning at 5 p.m. No transportation will be provided from the downtown hotels (Marriott, Hilton President, Aladdin Holiday Inn, etc.) since they are within walking distance of the P&L. As with all SkillsUSA events, the shuttle buses will operate throughout the event to and from hotels and downtown.
In addition, Lucky Strike Bowling Alley Center is offering a greatly reduced special exclusively for SkillsUSA members during the Festival. For just $7.95, SkillsUSA guests can bowl one game, shoes included, and receive a choice of an entrée and soft drink from 7-10 p.m. (Lucky Strike is connected to the Living Room of P&L.) More information will be mailed to state directors about this special offer.
The required dress code for admittance to the Champions Festival for all attendees is a state SkillsUSA shirt (polo, tee shirt or similar) and comfortable shorts or pants. This is a private event, and security will be instructed not to admit anyone without the official conference nametag and the required clothing. Carhartt, Pepsi and the Kansas City Convention & Visitors Association will sponsor the Champions Festival.
Champion of the Year Award
April 13th, 2010Today, April 13, I was honored to participate in a special press conference at the corporate headquarters of Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. in Allentown, Pa. Local dignitaries attending included representatives from the Chamber of Commerce, the Lehigh Valley SkillsUSA Industry Council and a select group of Air Products employees. I was honored to introduce two students from the Lehigh Career and Technical Institute, Brittany Kistler, a Small Engines student and Smanatha Cancro, a Culinary Arts student. Brittany and Samantha spoke to the group and talked about the positive difference SkillsUSA had made in their lives. Laurie Gostly- Hackett and Youth Development Foundation member Lynn Scheitrum were key in organizing the event.
At the press conference, I announced that SkillsUSA has chosen John E. McGlade, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Air Products, to be the recipient of the inaugural SkillsUSA CEO Champion of the Year award. The CEO Champion award will be given each year to recognize the leadership of the chief executive of an organization doing exemplary work in the creation and support of America’s highly skilled workforce. The award will also recognize CEOs for their corporation’s involvement in promoting and supporting career and technical education.
Under McGlade’s leadership, Air Products has integrated support for SkillsUSA in a number of ways with employees from around the country serving on technical committees for the SkillsUSA Championships, and on task forces and boards of state and local SkillsUSA chapters in California, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Texas. Air Products’ employees are active in judging local, state and national student competitions, and with the SkillsUSA Youth Development Foundation. The company provides financial support for SkillsUSA initiatives such as the Professional Development Program, and is helping SkillsUSA build its national network through support of the Alumni & Friends Association. Yet another form of support from Air Products has been a best practice guidebook developed by employees to help the organization better forge business/education partnerships with career and technical schools around the country.
Two television stations covered the press conference and you can see a sample of the TV coverage of the event here: www.wfmz.com/news/23141916/detail.html
SkillsUSA issued a press release regarding the award and it can be accessed here: www.skillsusa.org/downloads/PDF/newsroom/AirProductsChampionoftheYear.pdf
To see a video of the entire press conference, see below:
Mike Rowe Video
July 9th, 2009In case you missed it, or just want to see it again, we have posted on our website the video greeting by Mike Rowe that was shown at our Opening Ceremony (link to page). We are also very excited to announce that Mike mentions SkillsUSA and our national conference on his website, mikeroweWORKS.com, along with another video greeting to our members:(http://www.mikeroweworks.com/tool-shed/ ) .
We are excited to be affiliated with Mike Rowe and appreciate his support. Please visit Mike’s site and thanks for all the hard work you do each day!
Let me know when its ready to go.
In case you missed it, or just want to see it again, we have posted the video greeting by Mike Rowe that was shown at our Opening Ceremony on our Web site.
The video is on SkillsUSA’s YouTube Channel here.
We’re also very excited to announce that Mike mentions SkillsUSA and our national conference on his Web site, mikeroweWORKS.com, along with another video greeting to our members: www.mikeroweworks.com/tool-shed/.
We are excited to be affiliated with Mike Rowe and appreciate his support. Please visit Mike’s site and thanks for all the hard work you do each day!
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:
Special Greetings from Mike Rowe
June 4th, 2009SkillsUSA is thrilled to announce that Mike Rowe, host of the Discovery Channel show Dirty Jobs, will be sending a personal message to SkillsUSA via video, which will be shown as a part of the Opening Ceremony of the National Leadership and Skills Conference. Be sure to visit mikeroweWORKS.com to view how Mike is drawing attention to career and technical education and those entering America’s skilled work force!
Photo courtesy of the Discovery Channel
Lars Larson Interview
May 13th, 2009I was recently interviewed on the Lars Larson show. We were given permission to use that interview and share it with our members via podcast. You can download our free podcasts here: www.skillsusa.org/students/podcast.shtml
SkillsUSA on Mike Rowe’s Job Site
April 20th, 2009Through our contacts at State Farm, SkillsUSA is now mentioned on Mike Rowe’s personal Web site: www.mikeroweworks.com/job-site. If you are not aware, Mike Rowe is the host of the Discovery Channel show “Dirty Jobs.” One of Mike’s personal projects is to promote skilled labor and Career and Technical Education. State Farm has had calls with Mike’s business group and will be uploading video to the site as well. At our National Leadership and Skills Conference, State Farm plans to conduct interviews with various partners to also post on Mike’s site.
