SkillsUSA Friday Flash

1/28/22

 

 

Free SkillsUSA Posters for Your Classroom

There is still time to encourage students to join SkillsUSA before the membership deadline! The SkillsUSA Membership Kit is a helpful resource that includes posters and tools to bring awareness to your chapter. The kits are mailed to advisors at the beginning of the school year, and an online version is available on the SkillsUSA website. There are four posters available in the membership kit, and an additional four (including one in Spanish) are located on the page linked above under the heading “New Chapter Kit Items” (scroll down a bit to see it).

 

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, professional members receive online access to a host of powerful resources. Learn how to access your professional membership benefits in this Google doc.

 

If you need assistance, call the SkillsUSA Customer Care Team toll free at 844-875-4557. Phones are open 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 the team at customercare@skillsusa.org.

 

Show Your Pride During SkillsUSA Week!

SkillsUSA Week is Feb. 7-11, and 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.

 

The SkillsUSA Advocacy Site has two templates available for you to use to promote your activities during SkillsUSA Week and Career and Technical Education Month. One is for your U.S. senators and representatives and your local government officials, and the other is for your local media. The letter templates are editable, and we suggest you personalize your message as much as possible with details about your school, training programs and activities for SkillsUSA Week and CTE Month. If you are planning specific activities for SkillsUSA Week, please be sure to invite the news media to attend.

 

Share your stories, photos or links with the SkillsUSA headquarters and we just may feature your chapter on the SkillsUSA Champions digital hub. Thanks for being an advocate for SkillsUSA and career and technical education.

 

New Drinkware at the SkillsUSA Store

The SkillsUSA Store has launched several new drinkware pieces. This collection features a 20.9 oz. stainless steel bottle with steel rim and a sturdy carrying handle, a 16.9 oz. thermal bottle with a threaded magnetic insulated lid that doubles as a cup, an 18 oz. sea glass green bottle with a threaded bamboo lid and translucent soft-touch finish for cold beverages, and a 20.9 oz. stainless steel bottle with steel rim and carrying handle. Take SkillsUSA with you everywhere you go!

 

Free Access to National Officer Candidate Resources Ends Feb. 1

Becoming a SkillsUSA national officer is the ultimate personal growth and student leadership experience, and the 2022-23 National Officer Program Guide and application are now available. Before filling out that application, carefully review the guide, which contains a wealth of information on the certifications and Career Essentials coursework required of all candidates. SkillsUSA provides no-cost access to these certifications to national officer candidates, but you must apply for those by Feb. 1. See the guide for more details. All national officer applications must be submitted by June 1 at 6 p.m. ET.

 

Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities

Please join your fellow advisors for our upcoming SkillsUSA Professional Development sessions. Topics include an “At Work” series, with resources that cover critical thinking, difficult conversations at work, conflict management, Chapter Excellence Program for New Advisors and CEP 2.0, which is targeted at more experienced advisors! See the training calendar here. Completion certificates are provided for each session. A PDF of the 2021-22 Professional Development Opportunities is available here. For questions, contact Karolina Belen.  Use this Google Doc to learn how to access your professional membership benefits online. 

 

Love and Logic Session: Developing Positive Student/Teacher Relationships

Join us on Feb. 1 from 3:30-5 p.m. ET for a “Love and Logic” session designed to help you learn how to navigate student/teacher interactions. This month, we will focus on strategies that help us establish positive relationships, learn how to be strict and caring at the same time and distinguish between praise and encouragement. The cost to attend the session is $10. Register here.

 

Share Your Unique Knowledge and Skills During SkillsUSA University

SkillsUSA is 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.

 

Nominations for Honorary Life and Outstanding Career and Technical Educators

SkillsUSA is seeking additional nominations for SkillsUSA Honorary Life Member and Outstanding Career and Technical Educator awards. If you would like to nominate an individual for recognition at our national conference in June, please complete the online applications here. The deadline is Feb. 15. For questions, contact Laura Rauch.

 

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.

 

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

SkillsUSA is once again offering the 2022 National Leadership and Skills Conference (NLSC) Pin and T-shirt Design Challenge for all dues-paying student members. The winning designs will become the official T-shirt and pin design for the 2022 NLSC. 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 can be found on the SkillsUSA website.

 

Engage Your Chapter in SkillsUSA’s 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. Learn more about the program, as well as how your chapter can gain national recognition by participating, on our website.

 

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.

 

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.

 

Applications and more scholarship information are available here.