SkillsUSA

SkillsUSA

SkillsUSA Logo (2004–present)
Motto Preparing for leadership in the world of work.
Formation 1965
Type Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO)
Headquarters 14001 SkillsUSA Way
Leesburg, Virginia, USA 20176
Membership
 307,052 (2009)
Executive Director
 Timothy W. Lawrence
Website http://www.skillsusa.org/

SkillsUSA is a United States career and technical student organization serving more than 320,000 high school and college students and professional members enrolled in training programs in technical, skilled, and service occupations, including health occupations.

History

SkillsUSA was originally known as the Vocational Industrial Clubs of America (VICA). Prior to 1965, attempts at creation of national skill organizations failed. There was still a demand for skill and trade organizations, however. In 1960, the American Vocational Association (AVA) held a meeting, where a committee was formed to facilitate a solution. Representatives from the U.S. Office of Education and the National Association of State Supervisors of Trade and Industrial Education (NASSTIE – now known as the Association for Skilled and Technical Sciences – ASTS – http://www.astsonline.org) formed the committee. By 1962, the AVA encouraged the Office of Education to hire an employee to form the national organization. At the 1964 AVA convention, powerful leaders of industry and organizational leaders to include U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Secondary School Principals spoke in favor of the proposed organization.

The original VICA seal

The constitution establishing the Vocational Industrial Clubs of America was adopted at the Trade and Industrial Youth Conference May 6–8, 1965 at the Hotel Andrew Jackson in Nashville, Tennessee. Representatives for 14 states, consisting of approximately 200 students, advisors, and business and labor representatives, gathered to choose the club's name, colors, motto, purposes and goals.[1][2] The official red blazer, part of the organization's uniform, was patterned after the blazer from Illinois's organization.[2] These representatives were from existing vocational education groups which agreed to finance the effort, from the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. Illinois actually provided the salary for Philip Baird to be the first executive secretary of the newly founded VICA. The National FFA Organization is credited with making the first financial contribution. The American Vocational Association offered office space at no cost in its Washington headquarters. Additionally, the AVA's Trade and Industrial Division provided a grant.[2]

The original VICA logo.

Tommy Snider from Griffin, Georgia was elected as VICA's first student president and Larry W. Johnson, the assistant supervisor of T&I education and state advisor for the Vocation Industrial Clubs of North Carolina, became the first executive secretary of VICA on July 1, 1965.[1][2][3] He continued in the position until 1987.

By 1966, membership was up to 29,534, spanning 1,074 clubs across 26 states and territories. Additionally, the first issue of the club's magazine was produced.[1] At the national conference, held in Little Rock, Arkansas, the VICA emblem was unveiled, and the first official state charters were presented.[2]

In 1969, the Postsecondary Division of VICA was approved during a Constitutional Convention held in Memphis, Tennessee,[2] bringing total membership to 82,000.[1] The following year, the first edition of the VICA Leadership Handbook. was published.[1]

On VICA's ten-year anniversary (1975), the organization inducted its one millionth member. Three years later, VICA saw the start of the construction of its National Leadership Center in Leesburg, Virginia.[1]

The SkillsUSA-VICA logo, 1999.

VICA hosted the International Youth Skill Olympics—held a competition following the National Leadership and Skills Conference (NLSC)—for the first time in 1981, in Atlanta.

In 1995, the national competition, then known as the United States Skill Olympics, was renamed to the SkillsUSA Championships during the NLSC. In, 1999, during the NLSC, VICA was renamed to SkillsUSA-VICA; The name was shortened to SkillsUSA in 2004.[1]

Membership

SkillsUSA has more than 300,000 student members nationally, organized into more than 10,000 chapters and 54 state and territorial associations (including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands). Membership continues to grow rapidly.

Approximately 1 teacher and school administrator serve as professional SkillsUSA members and instructors.[4] Less than 2 corporations, trade associations and labor unions actively support SkillsUSA on a national level through financial aid, in-kind contributions, and involvement of their people in SkillsUSA activities. Many more work directly with state associations and local chapters.[4]

SkillsUSA programs include local, state and national competitions. During the annual national-level SkillsUSA Championships, more than 5,400 students compete in -3 hands-on skill and leadership contests.

SkillsUSA programs also help to establish industry standards for job skill training in the classroom[5][6] and is cited as a "successful model of employer-driven youth development training program" by the U.S. Department of Labor.[7]

Curricular

The Professional Development Program (PDP) teaches 76 workplace skill competencies in a series of hands-on self-paced lessons.

Student2Student Mentoring gives high school students a chance to mentor younger students.

CareerSafe is a credentialed 10-hour online training program developed in cooperation with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to provide students with basic knowledge of safety and a credential desired in the job market.

The Career Skills Education Program (CSEP) contains 49 online lessons teaching basic employment and life skills to college/postsecondary students.

The SkillsUSA Work Force Ready System is a comprehensive tool to help students document entry-level skills as defined by industry and accepted by state education policy. Developed under a W.K. Kellogg Foundation grant, the Work Force Ready System will feature 47 industry-driven assessments.[8][9]

National Leadership and Skills Conference

State collectible pins from the NLSCs for 1998 and 1999.
The NLSC opening ceremonies for the 2008 conference.

The National Leadership and Skills Conference is held annually in Louisville, Kentucky. Most of the competitions are held at the Ketucky Exposition Center, on the showroom floor. General sessions are held in Freedom Hall. The week-long conference entails the competitions, TECHSPO (the nation's largest trade show in trade and industrial education), a career fair, and SkillsUSA student government sessions. The SkillsUSA Championships is expected to bring in $14 million to Louisville's economy.[10]

Students from the various state associations socialize and learn from one another during the week. Each state association has collectible pins that are often traded between students from various state associations. These pins are normally worn on the official SkillsUSA blazer.

There are recreational activities scheduled during the conference week, including a SkillsUSA night at Kentucky Kingdom.

The week culminates in the awards ceremony. The NLSC generally has a featured keynote speaker. There have been a number of noteworthy speakers. Some of them include:[1]

Contests

SkillsUSA offers competitive activities in which students strive to achieve in a variety of occupational skill and leadership areas. Competition in skill and personal achievement is encouraged at all levels. Leadership contests include public speaking, parliamentary procedure, safety, Opening and Closing ceremonies, and job interviewing. Occupational skill contests include the building trades, health occupations, automotive technology, the electrical/electronics industry and personal services. Among many others, there are competitions for outstanding SkillsUSA chapter, community service, entrepreneurship and customer service.

Competitions begin locally and continue through the state and national levels. Some states also have district competitions. In most contests at the national championships, SkillsUSA presents medallions to the top three winners. In other contests, more than three medals may be presented if a standard is met. State and local contests may include the official national contests, but may also include contests not offered at the national level.

The contests are organized and run through a partnership of industry, labor and education. These partners provide awards as well. More than 5,500 students – winners from their states – compete in the $35-million national event, which covers exposition space equivalent to 16 football fields.

SkillsUSA is the official U.S. representative to the WorldSkills Competition. Select winners from the SkillsUSA Championships train for one year before competing at the biennial internationals. SkillsUSA competitions develop enthusiasm for learning and a sense of accomplishment. By recognizing students’ skills and abilities, the competitions promote professional development and appreciation of quality job skills. The events also stimulate public, and specifically student, interest in career and technical training.[11]

Students may participate in three types of contests: Leadership, Occupationally Related, and Skilled and Technical Sciences. Demonstration contests are added to determine interest. If interest is sufficient, demonstration contests can become official competitions and are added to one of the three categories.[12]"SkillsUSA Championships Technical Standards 2010". .

Leadership[13]

Competition Year(NLSC: Secondary) Gold Silver Bronze
2004 Lebanon County Career & Tech Center, Lebanon, PA Diman RVTHS, Fall River, MA Pike County JVS, Piketon, OH
2005 Roosevelt High School, Yonkers, NY Claiborne County Vocational School, New Tazewell, TN Bethlehem AVTS Northampton, Northampton, PA
2006 Sun Area Career and Technology Center, New Berlin, PA Hickman County High School, Centerville, TN Pittsylvania Vocational Center, Chatham, VA
2007 Conroe High School, Conroe, TX Diman RVTHS, Fall River, MA Manatee Tech Institute, Bradenton, FL
2008 Claiborne High School, New Tazewell, TN Franklin County Tech, Turners Falls, MA W M Davies Junior Career Tech High School, Lincoln, RI
2009 Montachusett Regional Vo-Tech, Fitchburg, MA East Hickman High School, Lyles, TN Centennial High School, Roswell, GA
2010 Montachusett Regional Vo-Tech, Fitchburg, MA Sun AreaTechnical Institute, New Berlin, PA East Hickman High School, Lyles, FL
2011 Center of Applied Tech North, Severn, MD Lake City High School, Lake City, SC Southern High School, Louisville, KY
2012 Bethlehem AVTS, Bethlehem, PA Center of Applied Tech North, Severn, MD Manatee Tech Institute, Bradenton, FL
2013 Sun AreaTechnical Institute, New Berlin, PA Diman RVTHS, Fall River, MA Career And Technology Center, Independence, MO
Competition Year(NLSC: Post Secondary) Gold Silver Bronze
2004 Community College of RI, Warwick, RI First Coast Tech Institute, St. Augustine, FL East Central Technical College, Fitzgerald, GA
2005 Abram Friedman Occupational Center, Los Angeles, CA Marchman Technical Education Center, New Port Richey, FL N/A
2006 Central Oklahoma Technology Center, Drumright, OK Sarasota County Tech Institute, Sarasota, FL N/A
2007 Central Oklahoma Technology Center, Drumright, OK Lake Career & Tech Center, Camenton, MO Texas State Tech College-Waco, Waco, TX
2008 Caribou Regional Applied Tech Center, Caribou, ME Texas State Tech College-Waco, Waco, TX Central Oklahoma Technology Center, Drumright, OK
2009 Central Oklahoma Technology Center, Drumright, OK Texas State Tech College-Waco, Waco, TX Sarasota County Tech Institute, Sarasota, FL
2010 Sarasota County Tech Institute, Sarasota, FL Lamar Institute of Tech, Beaumont, TX Canadian Valley Tech Center, El Reno, OK
2011 Penobscot Job Corp, Bangor, ME Sarasota County Tech Institute, Sarasota, FL Tulsa Technology Center Lemley Campus, Tulsa, OK
2012 Sarasota County Tech Institute, Sarasota, FL Ozarks Technical Community College, Springfield, MO Tulsa Technology Center Broken Arrow Campus, Broken Arrow, OK
2013 Slawson Occupational Center, Bell, CA Salt Lake Community College, Salt Lake City, UT Hunterdon County Polytech Central, Flemington, NJ
Competition Year(NLSC: Secondary) Gold Silver Bronze
2004 Burlington County Medford, Medford, NJ Canadian Valley Technology Center-El Reno, El Reno, OK Canadian Valley Technology Center-El Reno, Perkasie, PA
2005 Burlington County Medford, Medford, NJ Sullivan South High School, Kingsport, TN Allegan County Area Tech & Education Center, Allegan, MI
2006 Harris County High School, Hamilton, GA Ashtabula County JVS, Jefferson, OH Gloucester County Institute of Technology, Sewell, NJ
2007 Sullivan South High School, Kingsport, TN Bethlehem AVTS Northampton, Northampton, GA Harris County High School, Hamilton, GA
2008 Bethlehem AVTS Northampton, Northampton, GA Sewanhaka High School, Floral Park, NY Mingo County Vo Tech Center, Delbarton, WV
2009 Bethlehem AVTS Northampton, Northampton, GA Calvert Career Center, Prince Frederick, MD South Broward High School, Hollywood, FL
2010 Mingo County Vo Tech Center, Delbarton, WV Greater Lowell Tech High, Tyngsboro, MA Huntsville Center For Technology, Huntsville, AL
2011 Sullivan South High School, Kingsport, TN Ben Lomond High School, Ogden, UT T H Badger Vocational Center-South, Onley, VA
2012 Greater New Bedford RVTHS, New Bedford, MA Ben Lomond High School, Ogden, UT Sullivan Central High School, Blountville, TN
2013 Duncanville High School, Duncanville, TX Gloucester County Institute of Technology, Sewell, NJ Lewiston High School, Lewiston, ID
Competition Year(NLSC: Post Secondary) Gold Silver Bronze
2004 Central Georgia Technical College, Macon, GA Gordon Cooper Technology Center, Shawnee, OK Sheridan Vo-Tech Center, Hollywood, FL
2005 Central Georgia Technical College, Macon, GA Tulsa Technology Center-Peoria, Tulsa, OK Manatee Tech Institute, Bradenton, FL
2006 Central Georgia Technical College, Macon, GA Metro Technology Center-South Bryant, Oklahoma City, OK Sheridan Vo-Tech Center, Hollywood, FL
2007 Central Georgia Technical College, Macon, GA Northwood High School, Pittsboro, NC Tulsa Technology Center Lemley Campus, Tulsa, OK
2008 Central Georgia Technical College, Macon, GA Gordon Cooper Technology Center, Shawnee, OK Saint Paul College, Saint Paul, MN
2009 Gordon Cooper Technology Center, Shawnee, OK Lake Superior College, Duluth, MN Manatee Tech Institute, Bradenton, FL
2010 Central Georgia Technical College, Macon, GA Gordon Cooper Technology Center, Shawnee, OK Dakota County Tech College, Rosemount, MN
2011 Lake Superior College, Duluth, MN Canadian Valley Technology Center, Yukon, OK Manatee Tech Institute, Bradenton, FL
2012 Central Georgia Technical College, Macon, GA Gordon Cooper Technology Center, Shawnee, OK OTEC-Orlando Tech, Orlando, FL
2013 Gordon Cooper Technology Center, Shawnee, OK Birchwood High School, Colombia, SC OTEC-Orlando Tech, Orlando, FL

Occupationally related

Skilled and technical sciences

Demonstration Contests

See also

SkillsMalaysia

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "SkillsUSA History". SkillsUSA, Leesburg, VA. Retrieved July 6, 2007.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "SKILLSUSA HISTORY". Connecticut SkillsUSA. Archived from the original on April 7, 2007. Retrieved July 6, 2007.
  3. ↑ SkillsUSA-VICA. SkillsUSA-VICA Leadership Handbook (Revised, 1999 ed.). SkillsUSA-VICA, Inc. pp. 10–13.
  4. 1 2 "SkillsUSA Fact Sheet". SkillsUSA, Leesburg, VA. Retrieved April 27, 2010.
  5. ↑ Tom, Gelinas (September 2000). "Best of the Best (Skills USA-VICA National Leadership and Skills Conference and SkillsUSA Championships)". Fleet Equipment 26 (9): 4–5.
  6. ↑ "Career and Technical Student Organizations". U.S. Department of Education. January 31, 2007. Retrieved July 7, 2007.
  7. ↑ Emily Stover DeRocco (July 16, 2004). "Training Employment and Guidance Notice No. 3-04" (PDF). Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. p. 4. Retrieved July 7, 2007.
  8. ↑ http://www.skillsusa.org/about/factsheet.shtml
  9. ↑ http://www.workforcereadysystem.org
  10. ↑ http://www.wlky.com/news/15084687/detail.html?rss=lou&psp=news
  11. ↑ SkillsUSA Leadership Handbook, Twenty-Fourth Printing, Revised, 2010
  12. ↑ SkillsUSA Championships Contest Descriptions
  13. ↑ "SkillsUSA Competition Medalists". SkillsUSA.

External links

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