Skills USA logo
Skills USA mobile logo

Search results for: technical opportunities


SkillsUSA Highlighted in New Education Research

“Attracting the Next Generation” Report Shows Value of SkillsUSA Within Career and Technical Education Leesburg, Va. — SkillsUSA membership increases career and technical students’ likelihood of continuing in the career they are studying, according to new research by The Manufacturing Institute. The institute’s report, “Attracting the Next Generation Workforce: The Role of Career and Technical Education,” was based on surveys conducted by the Educational Research Center of America (ERCA) in collaboration with SkillsUSA. According to the report, 63 percent of SkillsUSA members are planning to pursue their chosen field, compared with 34 percent of students who are not members of a... Read More

Education Consultant and State Association Director of SkillsUSA California Elected to Serve on the SkillsUSA National Board of Directors

Leesburg, Va., Oct. 3, 2017 – Clayton Mitchell, education programs consultant for the California Department of Education and state association director for SkillsUSA California, was elected to serve on the SkillsUSA national board of directors. Mitchell was elected at the most recent meeting of the board in Alexandria, Va. Mitchell began his involvement in career and technical education in 1970 while attending Katella High School in Anaheim, Calif. His involvement with the SkillsUSA organization began while serving as a judge for competitive events in 2000 at the local and state level in California. Mitchell was assigned to the SkillsUSA California... Read More

Lowe’s Gives Grants to Support Local SkillsUSA Chapters in Applying Learnings to Community Projects

Grants to Enhance Learning Opportunities and Impact Communities Nationwide. LEESBURG, VA. OCTOBER 17, 2017 –– This year, 31 SkillsUSA chapters will receive grants from Lowe’s to enhance schools and communities while building the skills of students learning trades. Lowe’s, the largest corporate donor in SkillsUSA history, has provided a total of $1.5 million this year, bringing Lowe’s and the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation’s total contributions to SkillsUSA to more than $15 million since 2006. The school grants strengthen local communities while providing enhanced learning opportunities for students and fostering relationships between local Lowe’s stores and SkillsUSA chapters. “Lowe’s is one... Read More

Mike Rowe Talks SkillsUSA on “Fox and Friends”

America’s Favorite “Dirty Jobs Guy” Highlights SkillsUSA as a Skills Gap Solution  SkillsUSA was featured on national morning show “Fox and Friends” on June 21 in a segment featuring Mike Rowe, proponent of the skilled trades who is working to highlight career and technical education as an alternative to the four-year degree. In the segment, Mike Rowe talked with anchors Ainsley Earhardt and Steve Doocy about his involvement with the 2017 SkillsUSA Championships in Louisville. “It’s a very big deal. Once a year we try to come and shed light on this. It’s huge! If we focus on this organization... Read More

SkillsUSA Leaders Participate in White House Session on Workforce Development

CTSOs Brief Department of Education Senior Officials National officer Mackenzie Oestreich, high-school division secretary from Oklahoma (second from right) with Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and other CTSO students. Leesburg, Va. — SkillsUSA, a national nonprofit organization for career-focused students, was part of a recent Workforce Development and Career and Technical Education (CTE) Listening Session sponsored by the White House Office of Public Liaison. The June 1 event at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, provided an opportunity for White House staff and senior administration officials to hear directly from the leaders of career and technical student organizations (CTSOs) on their... Read More

SkillsUSA Resource Helps Students Explore STEM Careers Earlier

Jump into STEM! Releases Middle-School Edition Leesburg, Va. – In 2015, SkillsUSA launched its free member resource, Jump into STEM!, a curriculum developed for high-school students to use to mentor elementary-school students on future career path options. Based on the huge success of the elementary- school edition, SkillsUSA has released 22 new Jump into STEM! lessons designed to provide opportunities to engage middle-school students in STEM-related activities. The Jump into STEM! program now provides tools and activities for SkillsUSA members to help both elementary- and middle-school students take part in interactive career experiences. Whether the middle-school student wants to be... Read More

Fine Homebuilding and SkillsUSA’s Keep Craft Alive Scholarship

Fine Homebuilding Scholarships Help to Close the Skills Gap  Leesburg, Va. — SkillsUSA is proud to announce, in partnership with Fine Homebuilding, a new scholarship opportunity for SkillsUSA members. Current SkillsUSA members and alumni association members studying in construction-related fields, with a passion for their craft and planning to pursue continued education including community college, undergraduate programs, and industry certifications are eligible for one of five $5,000 scholarships – totaling $25,000 – for the 2017-18 academic year. Selections will be based on completion of an application, along with a 300-word essay and a letter of support from a teacher, administrator,... Read More

They’re Making Spirits Bright

The holidays always bring opportunities for SkillsUSA chapters to shine by serving others. Students at Westlake High School in Atlanta (top photo) adopted two families this season. Students and teachers worked together to shop for and wrap toys, clothes and coats for those in need. At Technical College High School in West Grove, Pa., SkillsUSA students at the Pennock’s Bridge Campus helped with their community’s annual Holiday Hope Chest (bottom photo). The event gives the local needy a way to holiday shop for their own families at no cost. With $5,000 in donations from community... Read More

SkillsUSA and Pearson Launch New App for SkillsUSA Championships Clothing and Tool Requirements

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contacts: Jane DeShong Short or Karen Kitzel 703-777-8810, jshort@skillsusa.org or kkitzel@skillsusa.org Technology Helps SkillsUSA Career and Technical Education Students Prepare to Successfully Compete at SkillsUSA Competitions Leesburg, Va. — SkillsUSA and Pearson have launched a new SkillsUSA Championships app designed to support middle-school, high-school and postsecondary students as they compete in the program that showcases the nation’s best and brightest students in career and technical education. For each contest, the new “SkillsUSA: Clothing and Tools” app includes an overview, clothing requirements, and eligibility and safety guidelines, as well as lists the specific tools, equipment or materials that... Read More