SkillsUSA Friday Flash
September 10, 2021
Free Career Essentials Support for Instructors
If you are beginning your journey with Career Essentials this school year, support from SkillsUSA is available every step of the way! Instructors can call 1-844-875-4557 or email careeressentials@skillsusa.org for assistance in these or any other areas:
• Ordering seats for your students in their Career Essentials course.
• Developing this year’s implementation plan.
• Creating administrative accounts for new instructors at absorb.skillsusa.org.
• Logging into your account.
• Using your dashboard to monitor students’ progress and performance.
• Learning more about Career Essentials and/or the learning management system.
If you are interested in learning more about using Career Essentials to define, implement and measure the development of career-readiness skills in your classroom, register for a Career Essentials overview here.
Clifford H. “Ted” Rees, Jr., Scholarship Winners
The Clifford H. “Ted” Rees, Jr., Scholarship Foundation has selected their scholarship winners for SkillsUSA students pursuing college/postsecondary career training in the HVACR industry. The winners are below, and make sure to stay up to date on all SkillsUSA scholarship opportunities online.
• Nicholas Didier, Miami Valley Career Technology Center, Ohio
• Anthony Gomez, North Arkansas College, Ark.
• Katherine Marchand, Guilford Technical Community College, N.C.
• Nathan Muenzner, Tennessee College of Applied Technology — Knoxville
• Lucas Ognissanti, Center of Applied Technology North, Md.
• Boom Rollice, Indian Capital Tech Center (Tahlequah Campus), Okla.
• Zachary Stone, Indian Capital Tech Center (Tahlequah Campus), Okla.
• Jaxon Windsor, Mid America Technology Center, Okla.
A Wealth of Professional Development This Fall
Please join your fellow advisors for SkillsUSA’s new Fall Professional Development offerings. These sessions can assist you in launching the new school year in a positive, empowering direction. Here are two of the many sessions being offered this fall:
“New Advisor Training” — Sept. 10 at 10 a.m. ET and Sept. 14 at 11:00 a.m. ET: Learn the essentials of your role as a SkillsUSA advisor. This professional development is for advisors in their first, second or third year and helps them create high-quality, engaging chapters.
“Business Partner Outreach Preparation Guide” — Sept. 14, 4:30-5 p.m. ET: Explore the “Business Partner Outreach Preparation Guide” and learn to streamline the process of welcoming business partners into your classroom. You’ll also gain evaluation tools for measuring student growth following the partner experiences.
Learn more about these and other Fall Professional Development offerings from SkillsUSA's online training calendar. Register for all sessions through absorb.skillsusa.org. If you have questions, contact Karolina Belen, SkillsUSA’s senior manager of professional development.
Support the Trades — and SkillsUSA — in Fashion
SkillsUSA teamed up with Tractor Supply Company (TSC) and Carhartt for a new “Support the Trades” campaign, designed to raise awareness of the skilled trades while helping SkillsUSA close the skilled trades gap. For the campaign, Carhartt and TSC created a new line of “Support the Trades” shirts, and proceeds from every shirt sold will be donated to SkillsUSA! “Support the Trades” shirts are available at your local TSC store or online at the TSC site. Check out this promotional video and follow SkillsUSA’s social media for more information.
Wolverine and Ram Trucks Put Boots on the Ground for SkillsUSA
To celebrate the skilled trades, Wolverine and Ram Trucks have collaborated on the new “Wolverine x Ram” line of work boots, built in the USA and inspired by the iconic details of Ram Trucks. To support the next generation of skilled workers, Wolverine and Ram are donating $10 to SkillsUSA for every pre-order for the new line. Check out the collection now!
“Technical Fridays” Industry Expert Workshops in September
Join us for “Technical Fridays,” SkillsUSA's new industry-led initiative for workshops that help teachers develop specific technical skills relevant to their career fields of interest.
On Sept. 17 at 4 p.m. ET, we will be focusing on the automotive industry and will be joined by Frank Woodson, training manager from GATES Corporation. Mr. Woodson will focus on the tensioner in the system and how to diagnose and correct issues that occur with it. There will be plenty of opportunities for networking, Q&A and comprehension checks, so you can leave with a new skill and be ready to implement it in your classroom.
On Sept. 24 at 4 p.m. ET, focus on the automotive industry continues as we’re joined by Joe Clarke, Toyota master technician. Mr. Clarke will preview the content and benefits of the Toyota Technician Educated College Support (TECS), a free learning course geared at students 16 and up. The course is designed to help students interested in a career with Lexus or Toyota gain a head start in their training while becoming certified through the completion of 16 e-learning modules. Mr. Clarke will also demonstrate the use of Toyota-specific tools.
The registration fee for each event is $10. Register on Absorb here. If you have questions, contact Karolina Belen.
Plan Now for Manufacturing Day
Many SkillsUSA chapters participate in Manufacturing Day, a celebration of modern manufacturing meant to inspire the next generation. While Manufacturing Day is celebrated on Oct. 1, you can hold events on any date in October. Events for students may include a plant tour, a virtual tour or an event on campus that highlights manufacturing. SkillsUSA chapters should share their Manufacturing Day photos and stories with Hayley Uffelman, SkillsUSA’s social media manager, at huffelman@skillsusa.org.
Jeri Widdowson, Executive Director
SkillsUSA Pennsylvania
3141 Shellers Bend
State College, PA 16801
814-238-0380
2021-2022-SkillsUSA Theme: United as One