Executive Update: April 1, 2023
Important Dates
May 4: National Signing Day
May 8: SkillsUSA’s 58th Anniversary
May 7-13: National Week of Service
June 17-19: SkillsUSA Leverage, Activate and Engage Training, Atlanta
June 19-23: National Leadership & Skills Conference, Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta
Aug. 15-18: State Director Association Professional Development and Training Conference, Columbus, Ohio
SkillsUSA National Signing Day Registration is Open
On May 4, SkillsUSA National Signing Day returns to celebrate high school seniors and college/postsecondary students who have chosen to pursue careers as professionals in the skilled trades. Learn more about National Signing Day on our site, where you can also download toolkits and other resources to help chapters in your state host their own events. Early bird registration ends April 3, and the final registration deadline is April 21.
Spanish NLSC Registration and Liability Form
State directors and advisors can now access a Spanish version of the NLSC Conference Registration, Liability and Release Form on the membership and conference registration website. Log-on and click the Conference button>Conference Liability Form (Spanish).
Nominate a Student Facilitator for National Training
SkillsUSA is bringing up a new generation of facilitators and we want your student programming facilitators to be a part of it! SkillsUSA will hold a national facilitator training event in Denver, Colo., May 19-21. We encourage state directors to nominate an outgoing state officer, an alumni member or others who facilitate student programming to attend. Facilitators will learn to articulate what SkillsUSA is, the organization’s philosophies and how it impacts education programs and to identify and apply instruction and formal assessment strategies to create permanent behavior change in program attendees. Attendees must arrive by 6 p.m. on May 19 for dinner. Training will be held on May 20 and until lunch on May 21. Flights should depart no earlier than 3 p.m. MT on May 21. Meals and lodging will be covered by SkillsUSA, and travel costs will be covered by the SkillsUSA state association. To nominate someone to attend on behalf of your state association, please ask them to fill out the form by April 6. Successful attendees of this training will have priority when applying to serve as a national facilitator.
National Week of Service is May 7-13
SkillsUSA is asking all chapters to conduct and promote a community service project during the National Week of Service, May 7-13. This helps commemorate the founding of SkillsUSA on May 8, 1965. For questions, contact Gayle Silvey.
Seeking Musical Talent to Perform National Anthem at NLSC
Do you know someone who has a musical gift to share with the SkillsUSA community? We’re looking for individuals who would like to perform the national anthem at the opening session of the NLSC in June. The chosen performer will be offered complimentary conference registration if their sole purpose of attendance is to perform the national anthem. Applications are due by 5 p.m. ET on Friday, April 28. For questions, contact Joey Baker.
Student Scholarships Available for SkillsUSA Activate and Leverage
The SkillsUSA Leadership Development Scholarship provides financial support for top students to participate in SkillsUSA’s Activate and Leverage leadership trainings to be held in Atlanta, June 17-19 prior to NLSC. The scholarships are funded by former SkillsUSA board president and Caterpillar executive Robert L. Flint. State directors must submit the applications for scholarship candidates, and the deadline is May 5.
Generate Great PR for Your State Conference
Leverage your State Leadership & Skills Conference (SLSC) to generate positive attention for your SkillsUSA association, individual students and schools, and for SkillsUSA as a whole. Public relations efforts can yield future financial or in-kind support from industry partners and program support from the school system. To help gain that positive PR, SkillsUSA encourages state directors to:
- Form a state public relations committee prior to your SLSC.
- Distribute a press release prior to SLSC with dates and event highlights.
- Email a press release to participating schools and local and state media outlets.
- Send a Media Alert to local and state media outlets a few days prior to your SLSC.
- Distribute a press release after SLSC to highlight medalists and honorees.
- Share the release with the media, participating schools, partners and public officials.
- Include your delegates, new state officers and Chapters of Excellence schools in your press releases.
A SLSC Media Kit is posted on the State Association Gateway and in the Press Room. It includes sample state press releases to personalize for your events.
The SkillsUSA Advocacy Site also has a press release template for state conference participants and others to share competition results with local media. Parents, instructors or students can send emails. Please spread the word about this important tool at your state conferences. For questions, email Jane Short.
NLSC 2023 Courtesy Corps Members Needed
SkillsUSA needs 120 or more National Courtesy Corps (NCC) members to support the 2023 National Leadership & Skills Conference. This much-appreciated group supports the technical committees and the overall conference experience, and it’s a great way for students to network with industry partners and SkillsUSA students from across the nation. NCC members receive free registration plus housing, local transportation, meals and entertainment. NCC participants are housed at the Georgia Tech Woodruff North Residence Hall in Atlanta. For eligibility requirements, visit the National Courtesy Corps web page. For questions, contact Tracy Whitehead. The deadline for nominations is May 16. State directors will receive a list of applicants from their state to approve on May 18.
National Officers Ready to Serve at Your State Events
SkillsUSA’s national officers are ready and willing to serve at your state conference by speaking, introducing partners and special guests or facilitating workshops. Complete a request form today to get useful support for your state conference while providing an incredible opportunity for a student leader.
State Awards Reminder for Advisor of the Year
SkillsUSA supplies state-level Advisor of the Year (AOY) awards at no charge to present at your state conferences. Each state may order an award for a secondary AOY and one for a college/postsecondary AOY. To order your award, email Kim DeVenuto at the SkillsUSA Store. Awards are custom-produced and shipped from the manufacturer, so order early and allow three weeks for delivery. Be sure to include this information in your email: “SkillsUSA State Advisor of the Year Award” as the subject, the correct spelling of the name of the advisor to be honored, your state association, your shipping address (no P.O. boxes), and the date you need your award delivered. For questions, contact Laura Rauch.
Due Dates
April
April 1: President’s Volunteer Service Award applications due
April 1: State deadline to advance gold Chapter of Distinction applications for selection as Models of Excellence
April 1: SkillsUSA Master Scholarship applications due
April 1: Sharon Melton Myers Scholarship applications due
April 1: Advisor of the Year state recipients due
April 3: NLSC Registration open
April 3: National Signing Day Early Bird registration closes
April 10: ECMC College Grant applications due
April 10: Lowe’s Gable Grant applications due
April 21: National Signing Day registrations due
April 28: National Anthem entries due by 5 p.m.
April 30: CareerSafe National Youth Video Safety Contest entries due
April 30: Aerotek Scholarship applications due
May
May 5: Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence applications due
May 5: Applications due for Activate and Leverage Scholarships
May 16: National Courtesy Corps nominations due
May 16: NLSC and Pre-NLSC (Activate, Leverage and Engage) registrations due
May 16: NLSC hotel reservations due
May 19: Confirm NLSC state hotel reservation block, if applicable
May 22: NLSC Travel Scholarship applications due
June
June 1: National Officer applications due
June 1: NLSC Request for Special Accommodations forms due
July
July 26: Student Research Foundation Scholarship applications due
