December 2012
Happy Holidays from all of us at SkillsUSA. We hope you have a wonderful Holiday Season and I want to personally thank you for the work you have done to lift up and inspire students this year. I wish you and yours a safe, healthy and prosperous 2013. I look forward to working with you in the New Year.
Winning WorldTeam Returns from Brazil
The 11 members of the SkillsUSA WorldTeam and 12 technical experts returned on November 19 from a victorious showing in Sao Paulo during the WorldSkills Americas competitions on November 11 - 18.
There were 23 other countries participating in the competitions. I'm proud to announce that seven members of the team won medals in seven of the 10 competitions SkillsUSA entered. The winners are:
Automobile Technology - Kieron Kohlmann, Ferris State University, Big Rapids, Mich. - Gold and "Best in Nation"
Cabinetmaking - Daniel Berrios, Northampton Community College, Bethlehem, Pa. - Gold
Autobody Repair - George Mason, Lexington Technology Center, Lexington, S.C. -- Gold
Plumbing and Heating - Nicholas Michalenko, Smith Vocational, Northampton, Mass. - Silver
CNC Milling - Joshua Bedell, Pinellas Technical Education Center, Clearwater, Fla. - Silver
CNC Turning -- Ronald Olkowski, Ferris State University, Big Rapids, Mich. - Bronze
Cooking - Matthew Lorman, North Point High School, Waldorf, Md. -- Bronze
Contestants in Graphic Design Technology, Web Design and the Mechatronics team did not place, but they and everyone involved now have the experience of international competition and that's all to the good.
News releases on all of the members of WorldTeam - including WorldSkills Americas information have been sent to hometown and state newspapers, trade publications and were posted online last week. To see photos of the WorldTeam in Brazil, please link to: www.skillsusa.org/compete/worldskillsamerica.shtml#results
SkillsUSA Champions Winter Issue
Our Winter 2013 issue of SkillsUSA Champions will be in the mail around Dec. 17. This is our annual "insider's guide" to the SkillsUSA Championships, in which technical experts and repeat competitors tell how to succeed in competition. We had a great response to a survey of our technical committee chairs. If you don't see your contest in the print version, be sure to look for their comments accompanying the online edition. As usual, we will also have an advisor's lesson plan posted online to help you introduce this issue to your students. (Note: Only those submitting membership rosters by the Nov. 15 full-service deadline will be mailed the Winter issue, but the full content and more are available on the SkillsUSA website.)
Regarding the magazine, we are looking for photo submissions for our "Image" page. Students and advisors can submit photos that show SkillsUSA members in action. We currently do not have a photo selected for the next issue, so please consider entering this contest. The photographer's chapter will receive a $150 prize check and, of course, the thrill of seeing his or her work in print. For details, email Tom Hall at thall@skillsusa.org.
Our next Educational Resources Catalog will have a new look. The catalog will be in digest format, with items organized in relation to the SkillsUSA Program of Work, and now includes an index to help you quickly find what you need. Look for the new catalog in your mailbox this January.
SkillsUSA Store
The 2012 - 2013 apparel line features new SkillsUSA branded outerwear and dress apparel, and a wide range of colors of cotton and performance polos for both men and women.
The updated gifts and accessories category includes a new Tech Collection, along with an expanded selection of drinkwear, bags, and school and office products. There are Under $5 products available as well.
The SkillsUSA Store is there to help you gear up for competitions and is the official supplier for SkillsUSA blazers, wind jackets, ties, competition work uniforms, chapter supplies, pins, patches and medallions. They are available 24/7 and are located at: www.skillsusastore.org.
If you are looking for a way to recognize a great team, say thank you to someone special, reward a champion, or simply to immortalize a moment in time, there is a new resource to help - the new SkillsUSA Awards Webstore. There, you'll find a nice selection of plaques and framed awards that can be personalized and SkillsUSA images from the gallery. You can also upload your own photo. The Webstore address is: http://skillsusa.awardswebstore.com.
The SkillsUSA Store team is also there to help you with product ideas and SkillsUSA custom product orders for your school or office. Please contact Heather Williams, SkillsUSA account manager, at: hwilliams@egrecognition.com or 703-674-5430 for assistance anytime.
For curriculum and other leadership materials, please contact the national SkillsUSA office at 800-321-8422 or email Keith Ashby or Roxanne Hodge. Either will be happy to take your orders or answer any questions you may have. The SkillsUSA Store is not housed at the national office ... it is a separate entity.
Call for SkillsUSA Talent Reminder
Do you have a talented singer in your school who would enjoy a special performance opportunity? SkillsUSA seeks talented singers for the Opening Ceremony or Awards Ceremony during the 2013 SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference. We are looking for a SkillsUSA student member to sing the national anthem or another patriotic song appropriate for opening special sessions. Singers may sing a capella or to a pre-recorded instrumental track.
Send in all audition videotapes on DVD, postmarked by February 1, 2013 to: Heidi Walsh, SkillsUSA, 14001 SkillsUSA Way, Leesburg, VA 20176. Questions may be directed to Heidi at 703-737-0610 or hwalsh@skillsusa.org.
SkillsUSA offers 47 technical and employability assessments in 11 cluster areas including four co-branded assessments with ASE/AYES and five co-branded assessments with PrintED/GAERF.
System enhancements:
Recent updates to the ordering website will make adding to existing orders easier and will allow users to review previous orders online. Go to: www.workforcereadysystem.org and click on the link "Review Orders or Add to Existing Order."
Training webinars
The training webinars for instructors and administrators offered in November were well received.
To view the archived presentations, go to: www.workforcereadysystem.org/webinars.shtml.
Pre- and Post- Testing:
Use our pre and post testing for program improvement. See testing guidelines at this link. See examples of available reports that help track student success at this link.
For additional information on the assessments visit the Work Force Ready System website or or contact us at 703-737-0633, Ext. 1, email: skillconnect@skillsusa.org.
Dates for the 2013 National Leadership and Skills Conference - Mark Your Calendars
SkillsUSA's National Leadership and Skills Conference will be returning to its usual schedule in 2013. The conference dates were skewed by a couple days this past June in connection with Kansas City hosting the Major League Baseball's All-Star Game.
The NLSC 2013 schedule will be as follows:
49th NLSC - Kansas City, Mo - June 24-28, 2013. The 2013 NLSC schedule will be from Monday to Friday. This means the Opening Ceremony will be held on Wednesday, June 26, the SkillsUSA Championships will be held Wednesday and Thursday, June 26-27, and the Awards Ceremony will be held Friday, June 28.
For the complete NLSC 2013 condensed agenda, go to this link.
Scholarship Opportunities
There are several scholarships opportunities available for students on the SkillsUSA website. Please pass the word.
National Technical Honor Society Scholarship (four, $1,000 each) - Deadline, April 1, 2013 - go to: www.skillsusa.org/students/nths.shtml
Sharon Melton Myers Memorial Scholarship ($500) - Deadline, April 30, 2013 - go to: www.skillsusa.org/students/scholarships.shtml#smm
Alumni Merit Scholarship (two, $500 each) - Deadline, May 1, 2013 - go to: www.skillsusa.org/supporters/alumnischolar.shtml
Stay Connected
Help your graduating students stay connected to valuable industry contacts and potential employment by having them register as SkillsUSA alumni. It's free, easy and open to all high school and college/postsecondary members. Have students go to: www.skillsusa.org/supporters/alumni.shtml. By registering, alumni members are sent a link to our online SkillsUSA Champions magazine, a quarterly newsletter, as well as social networking that could lead to new opportunities and jobs. Encourage your students to register now!
New Partnership with Interstate Batteries
Reminder
SkillsUSA is excited to announce a new partnership with Interstate Batteries and a fundraising program for local chapters. This is a great opportunity for your chapters to raise funds in partnership with a company whose mission and product align very closely with SkillsUSA.
Through this partnership, local chapters can now sell Interstate Batteries products and they will receive 50 percent of the sales. Below is the link for your chapter to sign up today. This is a great program to participate in as you seek to raise funds for district and state events and for leadership development activities and materials. For more information, go to www.Interstatebatteries.com/fundraising/SkillsUSA.
National Youth Safety Video Contest Reminder
CareerSafe, Safety Education for America's Future, is sponsoring the 2012-2013 National Youth Safety Video Contest. Students across the country are challenged to create a video demonstrating safety in the workplace. All submissions should be sent to CareerSafe by March 1, 2013. The winning students will receive a SkillsUSA Prize Pack as well as a scholarship up to $2,500 and the winning school will receive a prize up to $5,000. To view an online flyer about the contest, go to this link. For more information on the contest, please visit the CareerSafe website at: www.careersafeonline.com.
National Conference Pin and T-shirt Contest Reminder
February 1, 2013 is the deadline for entries to the SkillsUSA National Conference Pin and T-shirt competitions. This event is open to all paid student members of SkillsUSA. This is a great way to have a student and advisor recognized in front of a national audience. A plaque for the teacher and student, plus a school grant to the advisor of the winning student will be announced at a later date. Rules are in the membership kit and are also posted on the SkillsUSA website: www.skillsusa.org/compete/pindesign.shtml. Questions may be directed to Heidi Walsh at 703-737-0615 or to: hwalsh@skillsusa.org.