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.
Free Access to National Officer Candidate Resources
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 the application, make sure you fully review the guide; it contains a wealth of information on what certifications and Career Essentials coursework candidates must 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.
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.
Register Members by March 1 Deadline
The national SkillsUSA membership deadline is March 1. Student members must meet both state and national deadlines to be eligible to participate in national competitions; serve as voting delegates; run for national office; participate in national programming; or apply for scholarships, awards and honors. As a benefit of membership, professional members receive online access to a host of powerful resources. Learn how to access your professional membership benefits in this Google doc.
Get Career-Ready with the Framework Integration ToolKit
The Framework Integration Toolkit offers everything advisors need to ensure career readiness in their classroom, training program and chapter. The SkillsUSA Framework motion graphic video highlights the value of the Framework to students and explains that the Framework provides a common language so students can articulate their skills to employers. Also available is the Essential Element motion graphic video which explores each Essential Element in detail and helps students understand how the Essential Elements are practiced in daily life. 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.
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.
