Photo by Brooke Gatchell, SkillsUSA.
Last week, Washington, D.C. buzzed with energy as the SkillsUSA national officer team arrived from 14 states, uniting for an unforgettable week of advocacy, inspiration and connection. These young leaders brought their passion for the skilled trades to the forefront, meeting industry partners, school chapters and elected officials to champion the mission of SkillsUSA during SkillsUSA Week, celebrated every February as part of Career and Technical Education Month.
Monday: Setting the Stage for Workforce Innovation
The week kicked off with a powerful visit to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), a steadfast SkillsUSA partner. As advocates for the housing industry, NAHB representatives exchanged ideas with students on workforce development and trends in construction, while the officers proudly shared updates on SkillsUSA’s transformative work.
Tuesday: Building Advocacy Skills
The next day, the team honed their advocacy techniques with guidance from Jimmy Koch, ACTE’s government relations manager. Fueled by this training, they dove into preparations for SkillsUSA’s national conference and connected with several local chapters virtually to share activities and a lesson plan, ensuring their message of excellence would resonate far and wide.
Wednesday: Inspiring at the Local Level
The officers brought their message directly to Washington, D.C. schools, visiting Theodore Roosevelt High School and Garnett-Patterson S.T.A.Y. Opportunity Academy. Here, they led interactive workshops, toured dynamic programs and captured content for their inspiring Members on the Street video series. It was a chance to see SkillsUSA in action and empower other students to dream big.
Thursday: Advocacy Day with a Capitol View
Advocacy Day took center stage as the officers met with partner 3M’s advocacy representatives. Known for innovation across industries, 3M representatives joined in a discussion on amplifying career and technical education and addressing the skills gap. The officers followed this with a tour of the historic U.S. Capitol and impactful legislative visits to Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), and Bill Hagerty (R-TN). By sharing their personal SkillsUSA Framework stories, the officers vividly demonstrated how career-focused education has transformed their lives and can help shape the nation’s future workforce.
A Week of Impact and Empowerment
“This 2025 SkillsUSA Week has been absolutely incredible,” said SkillsUSA Executive Director Chelle Travis. “It’s been a time to celebrate our students, educators and partners who support us and define excellence. Our students leave this week more empowered than ever to go and make a difference in their schools and communities.”
From gaining new advocacy skills to connecting with communities, the national officers left an indelible mark on the nation’s capital, while growing as leaders and storytellers.
Want a glimpse of their journey? Check out the SkillsUSA Flickr albums filled with memorable moments. Be sure to share your own SkillsUSA Week news and photos for a chance to be featured on our website.
