SkillsUSA Louisiana Championship
That time of the year is upon us again the highly anticipated, SkillsUSA Louisiana Championship! The Big Letter is officially released with preliminary details and Hotel room blocks available. March 29-31, 2023, are the dates for the 41st SkillsUSA Louisiana Leadership and Skills Conference (SLSC) to be held in Shreveport-Bossier City, Louisiana. Registration and opening session will take place at Shreveport Convention Center Shreveport, LA. There is one hotel listed as the official conference hotel, Hilton Shreveport Shreveport LA. Activities for the second day will take place at Bossier Parish School for Technology & Innovative Learning Bossier City, Louisiana & Caddo Career and Technology Center, Shreveport, LA. The Awards Session will be held Friday morning at Shreveport Convention Center.
Plan Now for SkillsUSA Week
SkillsUSA Week is Feb. 6-10, and you can participate by honoring your community supporters, connecting with local business and industry professionals, or making a presentation about your program and SkillsUSA chapter at a school board meeting. Your chapter can plan activities using the SkillsUSA Week Chapter Guide. A student designed SkillsUSA Week T-shirt is now available in the SkillsUSA Store to outfit officers and members for your celebration. The T-shirt features the art of Clara Brown from Upper Valley Career Center in Piqua, Ohio.
New Report Highlights “The SkillsUSA Advantage”
A new report from the Student Research Foundation affirms what more than 14 million members served since 1965 already know: SkillsUSA involvement better prepares students for personal and professional success. “The SkillsUSA Advantage” report shows that SkillsUSA members consistently outperform peers not enrolled in a career and technical student organization (CTSO) in seven key areas, including meeting potential employers, being excited about their chosen career path, gaining work experience, being excited about school and more. Among the more than 27,000 high school students surveyed, this SkillsUSA advantage hold true regardless of gender, race/ethnicity or socioeconomic status. The report clearly underscores the importance of removing barrier to ensure that all potential members have an opportunity to join. Share this validating new report with administrators, partners, parents and more to help spotlight SkillsUSA’s life-changing, career-shaping effect. Download "The SkillsUSA Advantage."
SkillsUSA National Officer Candidates Sought
Becoming a SkillsUSA national officer is the ultimate personal growth and student leadership experience within SkillsUSA, and the 2023-24 National Officer Program Guide and application are now available. Before filling out that application, though, make sure you fully review the guide; it contains a wealth of information on what certifications and Career Essentials coursework candidates need to complete before applying. SkillsUSA provides no-cost access to these certifications to national officer candidates, but you’ll need to apply for those by Jan. 16. See the guide for more details. All national officer applications must be submitted by June 1 at 6 p.m. ET.
Overflowing with Professional Development Opportunities
Please join your fellow advisors for our SkillsUSA Professional Development offerings. Learn more on our online training calendar. Completion certificates are provided for each session. Use this Google Doc to learn how to access your professional membership benefits online. A PDF of the 2022-23 Professional Development Opportunities is available here. For questions, contact Karolina Belen.
Framework Integration ToolKit: Framework Foundations Lesson Plans
The SkillsUSA Framework Integration Toolkit offers everything advisors need to ensure career readiness in their classroom, training program and chapter. Teaching students about the Framework is a breeze with the Framework Foundations Lesson Plans. The lesson plans are divided into four chapters and are a great resource for diving into each Essential Element. Through the lessons, your students will begin to develop a language to talk about the career readiness skills they are learning. Professional members can access the Toolkit in SkillsUSA Absorb.
Take Up the Challenge! National Conference Pin and T-shirt Design
SkillsUSA is offering the 2023 National Leadership & Skills Conference (NLSC) Pin and T-shirt Design Challenge to all dues-paying student members. The winning designs will become the official T-shirt and pin design for the 2023 NLSC. The challenge opens on Jan. 15, entries must be received by March 3 at 12 a.m. ET, and winners will be announced on March 10. Rules and submission links can be found on the SkillsUSA Website.
New SkillsUSA Scholarship Application Now Open
SkillsUSA students can now apply for multiple scholarships by completing just one SkillsUSA scholarship application. Most scholarships are available to both high school and college/postsecondary members. Eligibility criteria for each Scholarship is noted on the application so that students know which ones they are eligible to receive. The SkillsUSA master scholarship application is open until April 1 and is available here. The following scholarships are included under this application:
· AHRI Clifford T Rees Scholarship
· Bob Westphal Memorial Scholarship
· Fieldpiece #MasteroftheTrade Scholarship
· #KeepCraftAlive Scholarship
· Larry Rash Memorial Scholarship
· Marsha Daves Scholarship
· NTHS Scholarship
Separately, SkillsUSA students can apply for the Sharon Melton Myers Scholarship until April 1 or the Student Research Foundation (SRF) Community Contribution Scholarship until July 26. For scholarship resources and tips on how to submit a quality application, visit the scholarships page on the website. If you have questions, contact Megan Flinn.
Need Assistance with SkillsUSA?
Call the SkillsUSA Customer Care Team if you need help starting a new chapter, registering members, engaging more students, or discovering strategies to strengthen an existing chapter. If you have questions or need assistance, the team is here to help. Call SkillsUSA Customer Care toll free: 844-875-4557 from
8 a.m.-5 p.m. ET Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. ET Tuesday and Thursday. You can also email them anytime: customercare@skillsusa.org.
SkillsUSA Technical Fridays Workshops
Join us for “SkillsUSA Technical Fridays,” a series of virtual workshops led by industry experts to help teachers develop specific technical skills relevant to their career fields. Leave the sessions with new knowledge and skills to implement in the classroom. Learn more about the workshops here.
On Jan. 20, from 4-5 p.m. ET, Greg Klever of Penske’s technical school and national partnership relationships will lead a “Tires and Brakes” session that will uncover the proper tools, inspection, serviceability and troubleshooting for air disc brakes. The workshop is free but space is limited. Register here. If you have questions, contact Karolina Belen.
Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities
Please join other SkillsUSA advisors for upcoming Professional Development offerings. Advisors in their first, second or third year can look forward to new advisor trainings on Jan. 27 or Feb. 10 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Completion certificates are provided for each session. Learn more on our online training calendar. Advisors can also access this Google Doc to learn how to use their professional membership benefits. A PDF of the 2022-23 Professional Development Opportunities is available here. For questions, contact Karolina Belen.
Honorary Life and Outstanding Educator Nominations Open
If you would like to nominate an individual for recognition by SkillsUSA as an Honorary Life Member or Outstanding Career and Technical Educator, please complete the online applications here. The deadline is Feb. 15. If you have questions, contact Laura Rauch.
The Best Way to Build a Successful SkillsUSA Chapter
You know you’re having a great year in SkillsUSA, so why not be recognized for it? Did you elect officers, hold chapter meetings and engage in chapter activities? Then take it to the next level: complete the Chapter Excellence Program Quality Chapter application and receive the recognition your chapter has earned.
Start your SkillsUSA Chapter Excellence Program (CEP) application today and earn recognition for your chapter. The online application is on the main page of the membership registration site. Once you log in to your school account, follow these directions for accessing the application. We’ve also developed the “Build a Successful SkillsUSA Chapter Teacher’s Guide 2.0”. The guide offers simple and easy steps to follow on completing the application, engaging students in the process and infusing the SkillsUSA Framework into chapter activities.
Advisors: Print Membership Cards Instantly
The SkillsUSA registration site offers a feature that allows advisors to print student and professional membership cards when they join. This website feature provides each member with a printed membership card. Each school or organization can print individual cards one per page or print multiple professional cards to a single page using the batch print option. The card printing option is available when advisors log on to the membership registration website.
Show Us What You Made … and What You’re Made Of!
SkillsUSA wants to showcase the great accomplishments our members make every day as skilled workers and leaders, and that’s what the #MadeInSkillsUSA social media campaign is all about. We’re asking members to share photos on social media that highlight their accomplishments. The photos can represent something students made with their hands (a construction project, a graphic, a hairstyle, a culinary creation, etc.) or a personal achievement earned through SkillsUSA (landing a job or internship, delivering a speech, leading a meeting, etc.). To participate, simply post a photo with the hashtag #MadeInSkillsUSA. Learn more here. For questions, contact Hayley Uffelman, SkillsUSA’s social media manager.
Earn Recognition for Service Through Presidential Honors
At the 2023 National Leadership & Skills Conference (NLSC), SkillsUSA will recognize advisors, students and registered alumni for their community service and volunteer activities through the President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA). To qualify, SkillsUSA members, advisors or alumni must submit a record of their service hours. With SkillsUSA’s focus on community service, you may already meet the requirements. For details and how to apply, visit the website. Applications must be received by April 1 for recognition at the 2023 NLSC.
