Skills USA logo
Skills USA mobile logo

Secretary of Education Tours SkillsUSA Championships in Louisville

Published: June 30, 2018
U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos was in Louisville on June 28, touring the SkillsUSA Championships with Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin and Lt. Gov. Jenean Hampton. SkillsUSA executive director Tim Lawrence hosted the walking tour of the national competition for the trio, who also met with students and business partners participating in the conference at the Kentucky Exposition Center. “I know all of you in red blazers appreciate this gathering as an opportunity to share ideas, compete on the floor, take part in leadership workshops, network with peers and discuss ways to prepare all students for today’s and tomorrow’s careers,” said Secretary DeVos. The 2018 conference included 102 contests to showcase a wide range of technical, service and health skills such as welding, culinary arts, cosmetology and nursing.  The SkillsUSA Championships is the nation’s largest workforce development event for middle-school, high-school and college/postsecondary students enrolled in public career and technical education programs. With an estimated $36 million total value of industry-donated time, equipment, materials and prizes, the event is one of the largest single days of corporate volunteerism in America. To hear the secretary’s reaction to seeing the SkillsUSA Championships, see below:

Related Stories

October 08, 2025

SkillsUSA Instructors Recognized as Winners for the 2025 Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence

SkillsUSA instructors are among 25 outstanding teachers from 18 states who are winners for the 2025 Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence. In total, [$1.5 million] in cash prizes were awarded to the teachers and their programs.
October 06, 2025

SkillsUSA Names Missouri Automotive Student to 2026 WorldSkills USA Team

SkillsUSA has selected James Cahill of Saint James, Missouri, as the official U.S. competitor for Automobile Technology for the 2026 WorldSkills Competition. This prestigious international skills competition, often referred to as the “Olympics of skilled trades,” will be held Sept. 22-27, 2026, in Shanghai, China.

Search News Room:

Media Contacts

For more information about SkillsUSA, contact:

Clare Briner (Media Inquires)

Director, Marketing and Communications
703-737-0625

SkillsUSA Inc. is a national nonprofit and tax-exempt student organization under the Internal Revenue Service Code, Section (501)(c)(3).

SkillsUSA is committed to a learning and working environment free from all forms of discrimination. Learn more.

Customer Care
844-875-4557 | customercare@skillsusa.org

Mailing Address
673 Potomac Station Dr., PMB #809
Leesburg, VA 20176

Copyright and Trademark / Privacy Policy

Mike Rowe

Mike Rowe for SkillsUSA

View More
Kayleen-McCabe-2016-300x200

Kayleen McCabe PSA

Kayleen McCabe PSA