FF Jan 7 | skillsusa-pa

SkillsUSA Friday Flash

Jan. 7, 2022

Plan Now for SkillsUSA Week

SkillsUSA Week is Feb. 7-11, and you can participate in many ways: Honor your community supporters, connect with local business and industry professionals, or make a presentation about your CTE program and SkillsUSA chapter at a school board meeting. We encourage you to celebrate all week by planning activities that follow the daily schedule of events for local chapters nationwide.

Monday, Feb. 7, Recognition Day. Recognize and honor members, advisors, administrators, business partners, community leaders and supporters who make a meaningful impact on your CTE program and SkillsUSA chapter.
Tuesday, Feb. 8, Give Back Day. Rally around your school community by focusing on ways for your chapter to give back.
Wednesday, Feb. 9, Partner Day. Invite local business and industry leaders to connect with members, highlighting the importance of developing career-readiness skills found in the SkillsUSA Framework.
Thursday, Feb. 10, Advocacy Day. Amplify CTE in your community by conducting a local public relations activity, such as presenting to school board members, administrators and community leaders.
Friday, Feb. 11, SkillsUSA Day. Celebrate SkillsUSA by wearing your favorite SkillsUSA T-shirt, planning a celebration activity or posting your SkillsUSA Framework story on social media using the hashtag: #SkillsUSAWeek.

The SkillsUSA Week Chapter Guide assists chapters in planning for each day of SkillsUSA Week.

Free Educational Resources and Career Essentials Opportunity

SkillsUSA has partnered with Aerotek and The Swinerton Foundation to deliver 37 grants for high school and college/postsecondary chapters to receive grants for SkillsUSA Educational Resources and Career Essentials access. Eligible chapters can receive a $3,000 or $4,500 grant, which will provide resources for integrating the SkillsUSA Framework into the classroom and chapter. Applications for a chapter grant must be submitted by Jan. 21, and recipients will be notified by Feb 11. Determine eligibility and apply here. For questions, contact Brandon Monk.

Proposed Bylaw Amendment Submissions

Registered SkillsUSA members can submit proposed bylaw amendments for middle school, high school or college/postsecondary divisions for consideration by the SkillsUSA House of Delegates. Bylaw amendment motions must be submitted, in writing, to Tyler Chaffin by Jan. 22 at 5 p.m. ET. SkillsUSA’s national executive council and board of directors will review all submissions at the March 2022 board meeting. All motions will be distributed to state SkillsUSA directors by April 22. Motions will then be presented for vote at the official business meeting of the House of Delegates during the 2022 SkillsUSA national conference. Bylaw amendments are governed by Article XII of the high school and college/postsecondary bylaws and Article X of the middle school bylaws. For more information and to view the bylaws, go here. The motion form is located here. For questions, contact Tyler Chaffin.

SkillsUSA National Officer Candidates Sought

The 2022-23 National Officer Program Guide and application are now available. Potential national officer candidates must complete the following before applying: Verification of SkillsUSA Framework Certification, completing the e-course and all associated work and passing the assessment with a minimum score of 80%; verification of the CTE Knowledge Certification, completing the e-course and all associated work and passing the assessment with a minimum score of 80%; and verification of completion and passing of the first three units of either the Advanced or Adult Learner Course of the SkillsUSA Career Essentials program, including all work and unit tests, with a minimum score of 80%. Note: If the Career Essentials credential is not earned prior to election, national officers will be required to earn it during their year of service. Access to certifications and the Career Essentials is offered at no cost with a deadline to apply by Feb. 1. Further details are available in the program guide. All national officer applications must be submitted by June 1 at 6 p.m. ET.

Announcing the 2022 SkillsUSA University Call for Proposals

SkillsUSA is now seeking presenters for the 2022 SkillsUSA University. Are you an expert in your career cluster? Do you have a skill you would like to share with teachers and students attending the 2022 National Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta? Sessions will take place on June 21, 22 and 23. Submit the request for presentation proposal here by Feb. 27. For questions, contact Karolina Belen.

The Best Way to Build a Successful SkillsUSA Chapter

You know you are 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 into your school account. The “Build a Successful SkillsUSA Chapter Teacher’s Guide 2.0” can be downloaded here. The guide offers simple steps to follow on completing the application, engaging students in the process and infusing the SkillsUSA Framework into chapter activities.

For questions or help, contact SkillsUSA Customer Care at 844-875-4557 or by email. You can also take advantage of a one-on-one coaching session with our CEP and Program of Work (PoW) coach, Kelli Engelbrecht. Schedule your 30-minute Zoom coaching appointment here, or call her at 573-321-1322. During the coaching session, learn how to integrate the SkillsUSA Framework, articulate your SMART goals and select and evaluate Essential Elements within your CEP application.

SkillsUSA Scholarships Now Open for Applications

Applications for several scholarships are now open to benefit SkillsUSA students in pursuit of higher education or certification in their chosen fields. Help spread the word about these opportunities:

The Marsha Daves Memorial Scholarship is open to current SkillsUSA state officers who are high school seniors or college/postsecondary students with another year of school. The deadline for applications is Feb. 1.
The new Fieldpiece #MasteroftheTrade Scholarship is open to SkillsUSA members enrolled in HVACR or general construction programs who plan to study HVACR at the college/postsecondary level in the 2022-23 or 2023-24 school year. The deadline for applications is March 1.
SkillsUSA in partnership with the National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) will award four $1,000 scholarships to SkillsUSA members who are also members of NTHS. The deadline for applications is March 31 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
The Sharon Melton Myers Memorial Fund, SkillsUSA and the McMinn County Vocational Center SkillsUSA Alumni Association are offering two high school seniors who are members of SkillsUSA a one-time $1,000 scholarship. The deadline for applications is April 15 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
The Student Research Foundation Scholarship is open to SkillsUSA members who are currently enrolled in high school and plan to continue their education in a postsecondary institution or program. It recognizes outstanding community contributions. The deadline for applications is July 26.

Additional information and the applications for these scholarships are available here.

Take Up the Challenge! National Conference Pin and T-shirt Design

SkillsUSA is once again sponsoring the 2022 National Leadership and Skills Conference (NLSC) Pin and T-shirt Design Challenge to all dues-paying student members of the organization. The winning designs will become the official T-shirt and pin design for the 2022 NLSC. The challenge will officially open on Jan. 15, entries must be received by March 15 at 12 a.m. ET, and the winners will be announced on March 21. Rules and submission links will be posted on the SkillsUSA website by Jan. 15.

Happy New Year from the SkillsUSA Store

The SkillsUSA Store invites you to celebrate the New Year with some NEW Collections and Store Favorites from over the years! We hope that 2022 is full of wonderful opportunities, friendships, and skills for all of the members of SkillsUSA.

Professional Development Opportunities for January to June

Please join your fellow advisors for our SkillsUSA Professional Development offerings from January through June. Learn more on our website or by downloading the full professional development 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 2021-22 Professional Development Opportunities is available here. Please note that there will be a new advisor training held on Jan. 21. For questions, contact Karolina Belen.

Focus Students on Safety

CareerSafe’s annual National Youth Safety Video Contest challenges students to create a two-minute video demonstrating workplace safety. Send submissions to CareerSafe by March 1. The winning students will receive a SkillsUSA prize pack and a scholarship of up to $2,500, and the winning school will receive a prize of up to $5,000. For more information and to submit your entry, visit the CareerSafe website.

Engage Your Chapter in SkillsUSA’s Refreshed Student2Student Program

SkillsUSA has launched a refreshed Student2Student program for the 2021-22 school year. The program connects chapters with younger students in elementary or middle school to facilitate SkillsUSA’s “Jump into STEM!” curriculum at their school. Student2Student entries must be submitted by April 1. Learn more about Student2Student here.

Earn Presidential Recognition for Service

At the 2022 National Leadership and Skills Conference, 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 can submit a record of their service hours to SkillsUSA, which is a certifying organization. This presidential honor recognizes the valuable contributions of volunteers who are answering a national call to serve others through their current activities or lifetime efforts. Details on qualifying hours and requirements for submission are available here. Applications must be received by April 1 for recognition at the 2022 national conference.