SkillsUSA Names Bryan Raeckelboom National Advisor of the Year

SkillsUSA Contact:
Clare Briner
cbriner@skillsusa.org

Building Construction Instructor from South Carolina Recognized for Inspiring the Next Generation of Skilled Professionals

Leesburg, Va. — SkillsUSA has named Bryan Raeckelboom, a Building Construction Instructor at the Golden Strip Career Center in Greenville, S.C., as its National Advisor of the Year.

The National Advisor of the Year program honors SkillsUSA’s most dedicated career and technical education instructors. The program recognizes talented educators who fully embrace the SkillsUSA Framework and national programming to create career-ready graduates. To achieve this honor, state-level winners from across the country advance to regional competitions, and the top five regional finalists undergo a panel interview process at the national conference before the ultimate winner is selected. This year’s finalists included Raeckelboom, Jeremiah Herron from Career Tech High School in St. George, Utah; Jasmine Blanks from Theodore Roosevelt Senior High School in Washington D.C.; Cheyenne Kirkpatrick from Kilgore High School in Kilgore, Texas; and Rebecca Erwin from Putnam Career and Technical Center in Eleanor, W.Va.

SkillsUSA Executive Director Chelle Travis emphasized the vital role that SkillsUSA advisors play in the lives of individual students and the broader success of the national organization.

“SkillsUSA advisors are the true heartbeat of our organization, and our mission to close the skills gap would be impossible without their unwavering dedication,” she said. “Instructors like Bryan and his fellow finalists leave an invaluable, permanent mark on the students they teach. By meeting students where they are and intentionally instilling character, accountability, and technical mastery, they do more than prepare students for a career—they prepare them for life. We are incredibly proud to honor Bryan as our National Advisor of the Year.”

A Passion for Craftsmanship and Student Growth

Currently in his eighth year of teaching, Raeckelboom’s dedication stems from a lifelong love for the construction industry. Having grown up around construction, he developed an early appreciation for craftsmanship, problem-solving, and the pride that comes from building something that lasts.

“My philosophy on teaching and the value of Career and Technical Education (CTE) is grounded in the belief that every student deserves the opportunity to succeed, grow, and fully experience the journey along the career path of their choosing,” Raeckelboom said. “I believe CTE is the backbone of our country. The world we live in was built on innovation, craftsmanship, problem-solving, and skilled expertise—qualities that are at the heart of career and technical education.”

Bringing the SkillsUSA Framework to Life

Raeckelboom has seamlessly integrated the SkillsUSA Framework—centered on personal, workplace, and technical skills—directly into his school’s culture. Rather than treating the Framework as a static classroom tool, he empowers his students to actively live out its principles through several key initiatives:

• Classroom Ambassadors: Raeckelboom established a mentorship system where advanced student ambassadors take 9th-grade exploratory students under their wings, teaching foundational skills and reinforcing character traits like integrity.
• Statewide Industry Engagement: To showcase technical excellence, his chapter designed and operated a public booth at the state’s largest home show, coordinating project displays and practicing real-world workplace and communication skills.
• Student-Led Advocacy & Accountability: Students serve on a peer-selected Student Leader Panel to evaluate and improve school culture, and they actively present chapter data and project alignment directly to the school’s administration and School Improvement Council.

“By embedding the SkillsUSA Framework into daily instruction, I ensure students not only master technical content but also grow as leaders, collaborators, and professionals,” he said. “My goal is to empower students to recognize their value, strengthen their character, and leave my classroom prepared to conquer the challenges life throws their way.”

Outside of the classroom, Raeckelboom credits his family as his ultimate grounding force. He is married and the proud parent of three young children who continually remind him of the daily importance of leadership, integrity, and hard work.

About SkillsUSA

SkillsUSA is the #1 workforce development organization for students, empowering them to become skilled professionals, career-ready leaders and responsible community members. SkillsUSA represents more than 444,000 career and technical education students and teachers in middle schools, high schools and college/postsecondary institutions nationwide. Those members represent 130 in-demand occupational areas, from 3-D animation to welding. A vital solution to the skills gap, SkillsUSA has served over 15 million members since its founding in 1965. Learn more at skillsusa.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.