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 360,000 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 360,404 members, organized into more than 17,331 classrooms and 50 states and territorial associations (including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands) as well as alumni members.

Approximately 17,331 teachers and school administrators serve as professional SkillsUSA members and instructors.

More than 600 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.

SkillsUSA programs include local, regional, state and national competitions. During the annual national-level SkillsUSA Championships, more than 6,300 students compete in 100 hands-on skill and leadership contests.

SkillsUSA programs also help to establish industry standards for job skill training in the classroom[4][5] and is cited as a "successful model of employer-driven youth development training program" by the U.S. Department of Labor.[6]

Curricular

The Professional Development Program (PDP) teaches 76 workplace skill competencies in a series of hands-on self-paced lessons. The Career Readiness Curriculum (CRC) includes 29 lesson plans based on Common Core State Standards. It infuses 21st-century skills into student engagement activities and is considered the first building block of the SkillsUSA Professional Development Program.

Student2Student Mentoring gives high school students a chance to mentor younger students. Jump into Stem! provides tools for high school students to mentor middle- and elementary-school students in STEM skills and activities that may lead to career interests.

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 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 offers 47 industry-driven assessments.[7][8]

National Leadership and Skills Conference

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 Kentucky 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.[9]

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.[10]

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.[11]"SkillsUSA Championships Technical Standards 2017". .

Leadership Skills

Occupational Skills

Skilled and Technical Sciences

Demonstration Contests

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. ↑ 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.
  5. ↑ "Career and Technical Student Organizations". U.S. Department of Education. January 31, 2007. Retrieved July 7, 2007.
  6. ↑ 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.
  7. ↑ http://www.skillsusa.org/about/factsheet.shtml
  8. ↑ http://www.workforcereadysystem.org
  9. ↑ http://www.wlky.com/news/15084687/detail.html?rss=lou&psp=news
  10. ↑ SkillsUSA Leadership Handbook, Twenty-Fourth Printing, Revised, 2010
  11. ↑ SkillsUSA Championships Contest Descriptions
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