• ‘In a Time of Change, Leadership is a Constant
• Lowe's Sets Record Highs
• Reaping National Exposure
• The Right Tool for the Right Job

During the Washington Leadership and Training Institute, members took a moment to reflect at the Pentagon 9/11 Memorial.

There may be a lot of bags being packed in Washington, D.C., these days, but SkillsUSA’s Washington Leadership Training Institute isn’t going anywhere. In fact, 2008 could be considered WLTI’s most successful “term” yet.

More than 250 members took part in the event. Along with intense and varied leadership training, attendees participated in the first ceremony ever at the Pentagon 9/11 Memorial. And, as a community service activity, students wrote letters to 157 soldiers in Iraq.

But the most exciting activity of WLTI has always been the face-to-face meetings with government officials. This year, students visited 27 senators and 59 state representatives, personifying the broad concept of career and technical education with their individual stories of success.

For more on WLTI, including photos, visit: www.skillsusa.org/events/wlti.shtml.

Top of Page

It’s a bit ironic, perhaps, that a company called Lowe’s is responsible for the highest one-year corporate contribution in SkillsUSA history. But when you’re talking $1.5 million to support a variety of SkillsUSA programs, well ... irony, schmirony!

The incredibly generous donation will support campus improvement and community service grants, CareerSafe training vouchers for construction trades students, the SkillsUSA WorldTeam in the WorldSkills competition, state-level TeamWorks competitions, and more.

For full details, visit: www.skillsusa.org/educators/lowes.shtml.

With the help of STIHL Inc. — manufacturer of hand-held power equipment — students from Frankfort, Ky., seized the opportunity to promote SkillsUSA on an upcoming episode of the “P. Allen Smith Gardens” television program.

State president Righter Dundon (pictured at left), from Franklin County Career and Technical Center, was interviewed for the nationally syndicated program, as were members Loretta Wallace, Kristen Arvin and Alexander Brassfield from Eastside Technical Center. Their segment, conducted at the Green Industry and Equipment Expo in Louisville, focused on the importance of skilled careers and technical education.

“They asked me to talk about the purposes of SkillsUSA,” Dundon said. “[SkillsUSA is about] preparing for leadership in the world of work, so it was easy to talk about how the organization helps develop leadership skills and confidence.”

The episode will appear on ABC affiliates sometime in 2009. Stay tuned to www.pallensmith.com and www.skillsusa.org for more details.

SkillsUSA, in partnership with N.E.W., has created a new job search/résumé board. To join in, visit: http://newjobs.skillsusa.org/search.cfm.