Friday Flash Aug 28, 2026
Level Up Your Year with SkillsUSA Point + Elevate
A successful SkillsUSA chapter starts with equipped advisors and empowered student leaders. This September, SkillsUSA Point and Elevate offer two complementary virtual experiences designed to help you and your chapter start the year with purpose and a plan.
SkillsUSA Point focuses on you as the advisor by providing updates, resources and strategies to help guide your chapter. Elevate puts your chapter officers in the driver’s seat by building their leadership skills and giving them dedicated time to begin putting chapter goals into action.
Together, they provide a strong foundation for a successful SkillsUSA year.
📍 SkillsUSA Point — For Chapter Advisors
Thursday, Sept. 3 | 1–4 p.m. ET | FREE
Connect with advisors from across the country while exploring national updates, new programs and resources, work-based learning, the SkillsUSA Framework, Program of Work and more. You’ll also have time to reflect on your chapter, identify priorities and gather ideas you can put into action right away.
Learn more and register here for SkillsUSA Point by Sept. 2!
🚀 SkillsUSA Elevate — For Chapter Officers
Wednesday, Sept. 9 | 11 a.m.–4:30 p.m. ET | $50 per chapter
Elevate, SkillsUSA’s virtual Chapter Officer Development Conference, helps student leaders strengthen essential leadership skills while beginning to develop or refine their chapter’s Program of Work. Interactive programming is paired with dedicated chapter work time, allowing your students to focus on their own goals while you coach them alongside SkillsUSA facilitators. And with one $50 registration per chapter, you can bring as many student leaders as you’d like.
Learn more and register here for Elevate by Sept. 4!
Give yourself and your student leaders the time, tools and momentum to Level Up this year!
Louisiana Fall Leadership (FLC)
This years fall leadership will have a venue change and take place in Baton Rouge, LA. The dates are November 16 - 17. 2026. The venue is the Hilton Capitol Center Baton Rouge with mondays Lunch and Dinner to be provided in the registration fee. Further information regarding registration will be publish soon.
Register for the Washington Leadership Training Institute (WLTI)
There’s still time to register for the Washington Leadership Training Institute (WLTI). Join SkillsUSA students and advisors in Washington, D.C., for leadership training and advocacy experiences, including engagement on Capitol Hill.
Registration closes Sept. 2 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
Learn more and access the Conference Guide.
National Blood Crisis – Donate Before August 31
For just the second time in our history, the Red Cross has issued a national blood crisis. Blood donations have fallen to a four-year summer low, worsening this summer’s emergency shortage.
All blood types are needed, but the situation is especially dire for type O blood as the Red Cross is now limiting distribution of these blood products to hospitals. The type O positive blood supply has fallen below a one-day supply. Blood and platelet donors are needed immediately to ensure hospitals have the blood they need for patients whose lives depend on transfusions.
You can help the Red Cross overcome this shortage:
Schedule your blood or platelet donation today by visiting Red Cross Blood. After you enter your personal information, you will be redirected to a webpage with locations near you for scheduling.
The Red Cross will say thanks with a $20 Amazon Gift Card by email when you come to give between Aug 1-31, 2026.
If you prefer to schedule by phone, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
Consider hosting a Red Cross blood drive. If you know of someone who is willing to sponsor a blood drive, please ask them to submit their information at RedCrossBlood.org/HostADrive.
Industry Insider: Showcasing Your Future with IBM
Explore how technology is shaping careers across industries while learning more about in-demand tech pathways and the skills needed to succeed in a rapidly evolving workforce.
Join SkillsUSA and IBM for an exclusive Industry Insider session showcasing the FREE career exploration resources available through IBM SkillBuild.
During this interactive virtual event, students will hear directly from industry professionals, spanning roles in Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, and Data Analytics, explore emerging technology careers, and learn how IBM SkillBuild can help them build valuable skills for the future. We encourage students and advisors to have their computers nearby so they can actively participate and explore the available courses in IBM SkillsBuild during the session!
Date: September 17, 2026Time: Noon - 12:50 p.m. ET Audience: Students and advisors
Registration Details Already a SkillsUSA member? Log in to SkillsUSA Pathful and register for the event here.
SkillsUSA Pathful is SkillsUSA’s all-in-one career-readiness platform and an exclusive benefit of SkillsUSA membership, connecting students and educators with career exploration, work-based learning and career-readiness resources.
Not a SkillsUSA member? You can still participate! Register for the event here.
Interested in accessing SkillsUSA Pathful and other exclusive member benefits? Learn more about joining SkillsUSA here.
Explore IBM Resources
Advisors, share these resources with your students and encourage them to explore the following activities: Your Future in AI, Your Future in Data, and Your Future in Cybersecurity.
John Deere Partnership: Technical Session
John Deere is here to help! Join us for a technical session focused on diesel equipment technology, skilled trades, and career pathways.
Thursday, October 8 | Noon – 12:50 p.m. ET
SkillsUSA Pathful LMS
Educators will explore John Deere resources and support for instructors and programs, including a basic electrical lesson and demonstration, the John Deere TECH Program, dealership career pathways, and opportunities to connect with local John Deere dealerships.
Register Already a SkillsUSA member? Log in to SkillsUSA Pathful and register for the event here.
SkillsUSA Pathful is SkillsUSA’s all-in-one career-readiness platform and an exclusive benefit of SkillsUSA membership, connecting students and educators with career exploration, work-based learning and career-readiness resources.
Not a SkillsUSA member? You can still participate! Register for the event here.
Interested in accessing SkillsUSA Pathful and other exclusive member benefits? Learn more about joining SkillsUSA here.
John Deere is ready to partner with SkillsUSA educators and help prepare the next generation of skilled professionals.
The Crew Behind the Competitions
When thousands of attendees filled the Georgia World Congress Center for the 62nd annual National Leadership & Skills Conference (NLSC) in early June, a lot of eyes were on the competition floor. But behind every competition that started on schedule, every station reset between rounds and every smoothly run competition area was a group many attendees might not have noticed: the National Courtesy Corps.
This year, 97 Courtesy Corps members — students and the advisors who worked right alongside them — served as the operational backbone of the SkillsUSA Championships, supporting the technical committees that make each competition possible. Read the full story on the SkillsUSA Champions Hub.
Share Your Community Service Stories with SkillsUSA!
The SkillsUSA Champions digital hub provides new content frequently, from inspiring features to stories about the great work chapters and partners are doing. We know your chapters are doing some amazing community service work this holiday season and we would love to write about it. To submit a story idea, send us the details through our “Submit a Story” link, and we’ll contact you.
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