Region I
Carol Olsen
Cape Cod Regional Technical High School
Harwich, Mass.

Carol Olsen has served SkillsUSA as an advisor for 14 years. A graphic arts instructor at Cape Cod Regional Technical High School in Harwich, Mass., Olsen has always inspired her students to take advantage of SkillsUSA's technical and leadership opportunities. In fact, since she became an advisor, SkillsUSA membership has tripled at her school. Olsen's involvement spans all areas of the SkillsUSA program; she is active in community service, coordinates competitive events, develops curriculum, contributes to strategic planning and more. Called "an honest, supportive and compassionate individual with a high level of integrity" by her peers, Olsen represents the highest level of quality a SkillsUSA advisor can attain.

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Region II
Dr. Thomas Washburn
Centennial High School
Roswell, Ga.

Dr. Thomas Washburn has been a criminal justice instructor since 1997 and a SkillsUSA advisor at Centennial High School in Georgia since 2000. His powerful influence has been far-reaching, affecting students, fellow teachers and even curriculum. Washburn has created a thriving competitive atmosphere at Georgia's state conference by modeling his events after the national conference model: he created technical committees supported by education teams and has solicited industry experts to strengthen his program's effectiveness. He's also heavily involved in community service and the leadership aspects of the program, especially when it comes to students with special needs. Called "an inspiration" by peers and students alike, Washburn has truly earned his status as one of the top SkillsUSA advisors in the nation.

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Region III
Mary Motz
Huron Area Technical Center
Bad Axe, Mich.

Mary Motz has been a SkillsUSA advisor and cosmetology instructor at Huron Area Technical Center in Bad Axe, Mich., for 23 years. She's served as secretary, president and past president on the SkillsUSA Michigan advisor council. Owner of her own salon since 1973, Motz has worked tirelessly setting up regional and state competitions, updating her curriculum, and getting her students involved in community service and other leadership aspects of SkillsUSA. "My biggest thrill is watching the students grow beyond their wildest dreams," Motz says. "I have learned so much more from being involved in SkillsUSA than I could possibly give back."

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Region IV
Mark American Horse
Central Tech
Sapulpa, Okla.

For the last 11 years, Mark American Horse has served as a SkillsUSA advisor at Central Tech in Sapulpa, Okla. As a criminal justice instructor, American Horse created SkillsUSA Oklahoma's first Crime Scene Investigation and First Aid/CPR contests. He has assisted every school in Oklahoma that has hired a criminal justice instructor to help maximize the success of their programs American Horse keeps his program on the cutting edge of technology, ensuring that his students are well-prepared for their careers. In fact, his students have assisted in three homicide investigations. He also involves his students in a variety of service activities to further benefit his community. His peers call him an "inspiration to his students and fellow teachers."

Congratulations to Mark American Horse, the 2011 Advisor of the Year!

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Region V
Oscar Olivas
Peoria High School
Peoria, Ariz.

A construction trades instructor at Peoria (Ariz.) High School, Oscar Olivas has been a SkillsUSA advisor for 10 years. His chapter has been called a "stellar example" of SkillsUSA's mission statement. In fact, as a result of Olivas' example, other local building trades programs have incorporated SkillsUSA into their classrooms. Olivas helps write curriculum, mentors new instructors and provides his students with a host of community service opportunities. He's also working to initiate green technologies into his and other area programs. In short, Olivas leads by example, and his students learn to do the same.

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