Photo by Craig Moore.
Every February, SkillsUSA Week is celebrated in chapters across the nation, and this year’s extravaganza — sponsored by John Deere — was one of the biggest and best ever! SkillsUSA Week is a time to showcase the amazing opportunities SkillsUSA offers our next generation of skilled professionals, career-ready leaders and responsible community members, and hundreds of chapters participated in unique activities related to each day’s specific theme:
- Recognition Day (Monday)
- Give-Back Day (Tuesday)
- Partner Day (Wednesday)
- Advocacy Day (Thursday)
- SkillsUSA Day (Friday)
SkillsUSA’s national officers embraced a key role throughout the week, too. On Give-Back Day, the entire team visited the Academies of Loudoun in Leesburg, Va., where they served the chapter by assisting in the graphic communications awards ceremony.
On Partner Day, eight officers and Executive Director Chelle Travis visited Aerotek’s corporate campus in Hanover, Md., to thank Aerotek for scholarships and their incredible ongoing support. Meanwhile, national officers Emily Pinto and Kayla Mathieu traveled to Tennessee, where they toured the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT). There, they spoke to the SkillsUSA Championships national competition technical chairs who had flown in to meet and prepare for the National Leadership & Skills Conference in June. The students were also given a guided tour through the Nissan plant, where they saw how a vehicle is manufactured from start to finish.
National officers Preet Damani and Naomi Domer also traveled to Mississippi on Partner Day to thank committed partner John Deere, the official sponsor for SkillsUSA Week. “I got to experience how companies like John Deere foster a work-based learning environment,” says Damani. “They emphasize professional development by continually training their employees from the beginning to retirement, ensuring that every employee is confident delivering products and services to their customers. With this partnership, SkillsUSA members will be able to get direct assistance accessing these enriching opportunities.”
On Advocacy Day, the entire national officer team assembled in Washington, D.C., to visit the U.S. Department of Education. There, they met with Assistant Secretary Amy Loyd and several staff from the Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education (OCTAE). The inspiring session delved deep into SkillsUSA’s crucial role in workforce development as officers shared stories on how CTE and SkillsUSA has transformed their lives, both personally and professionally.
Next, the group met with the offices of four senators at the U.S. Capitol, including the staffs of Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) and Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.).
On SkillsUSA Day, the national officers concluded a successful SkillsUSA Week by hosting a virtual breakfast for the SkillsUSA staff followed by some additional training time with their team leaders.
“SkillsUSA Week is one of our most important weeks of the year and a highlight for our students,” says SkillsUSA Executive Director Chelle Travis. “It’s a time to lift up our students and recognize educators and business partners who bolster support for local programs that define student excellence.”
To see photos from our national officer’s adventures during SkillsUSA Week, check out our national photo album of events. You’ll also find photos submitted by our chapters.
Did your chapter participate in SkillsUSA Week? It’s not too late to share your photos and stories! We just may spotlight your chapter on our website and social media!
