Niagara CTE Center students made dog treats for local shelters. Photo courtesy of Niagara CTE Center. Photos below provided by their respective schools.
From coast to coast, these 30 SkillsUSA chapters have stepped up as true changemakers, leading meaningful community service projects that bring help, hope and heart to schools and communities. We hope these stories inspire other students during the annual SkillsUSA Week of Service — or anytime when your chapter is planning new projects. Community service helps students grow as individuals while making a real impact on the world around them. Service projects build skills as well as greater empathy and awareness of community issues and needs. Through service, these students developed real-world skills and created lasting connections between their school and the community.
A.W. Beattie Career Center (Pennsylvania)
Creating a Caring Cabinet to Provide Free Items
SkillsUSA students at A.W. Beattie Career Center in Allison Park, Pa. came up with an idea for a community service project to provide food and hygiene items free of charge for students attending the school. They surveyed students and found out that 20% of students did not have enough food or hygiene products at home and 40% got a free lunch. The students decided to gather food and hygiene items and build a Caring Cabinet to store them. Carpentry students drew the plans and ordered the materials, then built the cabinet from scratch. Other students used their nutrition knowledge to select healthy nutrient-dense shelf-stable food options. Students then created branding and promoted the Caring Cabinet on social media to share the need and the solution. To stock the cabinet, the students created an Amazon wish list, and they reached out to local businesses and alumni members and asked them to donate funds or buy from the wish list. The items were then shipped directly from Amazon to the school and the students gathered 1,850 products worth approximately $500.
Alliance Academy for Innovation (Georgia)
Saying Thanks to First Responders
The Alliance Academy for Innovation Community Service team exhibited Work Ethic skills by organizing and promoting a First Responders’ Letter Writing Event where 59 members attended the event and demonstrated skills by writing 63 thoughtful thank-you letters recognizing the vital efforts of local heroes and delivered them to these individuals.
Cape Cod Regional Technical High School (Massachusetts)
Paint Night for Scholarships
The Cape Cod Regional Technical High School SkillsUSA chapter hosted a Paint Night with all proceeds going to their scholarship fund. The officers embraced Responsibility to plan and carry out their event. On Paint Night, an alumni artist guided 27 people step by step to paint a tranquil beach scene. Participants enjoyed snacks and each person left with a unique painting to take home and frame. After adjusting supplies and food, the chapter made $500 for student scholarships. In addition to the painters, there were 20 other student volunteers who helped to host the event by handling set up and clean up, or by preparing snacks and drinks for everyone.
Center of Applied Technology North (Maryland)
Making Meals for Program Advisory Committee Meetings
The Center of Applied Technology (CAT) North Baking and Pastry Arts class demonstrated Adaptability and Flexibility by planning and executing their school’s Program Advisory Committee Meetings (PACMs) throughout the year. Students replicated real-life workplace experiences and demonstrated Adaptability and Flexibility by adjusting for dietary restrictions, missing ingredients, recipes made incorrectly and covering for classmates who were absent on the day of the event.
Cesar Chavez High School (California)
Collecting Toys for Families in Need
Cesar Chavez High School students used Self-Motivation to plan and grow their annual toy drive. Chapter members worked with the California Highway Patrol (CHP) to collect new, unwrapped toys for children and families in need in the Stockton Community. The distribution took place at the CHP office in Stockton prior to Christmas. The students collected a total of 5,082 toys from their school drive, a Walmart toy drive and collections at 11 local businesses. They also collected $3,362 in cash donations and used that money to purchase 25 bikes and helmets plus 40 Walmart gift cards for teens and families. A total of 250 families received gifts and food boxes with approximately 800 children in the community receiving five new toys each plus some received a bike and or gift card.
distributed to over 800 children.
Cleburne High School (Texas)
Yellow Jacket Buddy Bags for the Police Department
SkillsUSA teacher Nathan VanRyn at Cleburne (Texas) High School and his law enforcement students discussed community service projects and decided to produce bags of sensory items for the Cleburne Police Department to use when officers respond to a call where there is a child present, specifically an autistic child. Their school mascot is the Yellow Jacket, so they called them Yellow Jacket Buddy Bags. The students researched items that would be helpful for interacting with a child when there is an altercation and police enter a home. Interacting in a calm and pleasant way with the children in these situations can make such a difference in how they deal with and interpret the situation, both now and in the future, especially in cases of domestic violence.
Cross Keys High School (Georgia)
Conducting Community Healthcare Demonstrations
Students at Cross Keys High School focused on Professionalism as they planned and carried out community healthcare demonstrations. The event included five demonstration booths on first aid and CPR, brushing and flossing teeth, checking a child’s temperature, food and nutrition, and the benefits of step-aerobics exercise. The students studied Professionalism before their event to assess their current skills and ways to improve them. On the day of the health fair, the chapter members served over 150 people from the community who visited their booths. SkillsUSA members who were not part of the actual demonstrations also attended to provide event support, so everyone participated.
Cumberland County Technical Education Center (New Jersey)
Creating Personal Care Kits for Victims of Domestic Violence
The SkillsUSA chapter at Cumberland County Technical Education Center in Vineland, N.J., made a big difference by helping their local Center for Family Services stock a safe home for victims of domestic violence. The SkillsUSA chapter started brainstorming for service project ideas and decided to help the residents of the shelter. The students reached out to the Center for Family Services to ask what items the residents needed. Based on the recommendations, they created personal care kits with items that were the most requested. Students choose items that were inexpensive so more people could donate. Being able to help and give back to this cause made the students happy and a total of 45 students participated in the project and created 50 personal care kits, each with enough items for about three months. Students designed flyers, passed them out to the school, created donation boxes and gathered the items. They created 86 adult kits and 10 child kits with more than 730 total items donated.
Dinuba High School (California)
Building a Career Closet for Young Women
The Dinuba Rise project gave female CTE students the support and resources needed to build professional skills, knowledge and confidence for their future careers through a Career Closet and a Speaker Series for young women. The SkillsUSA chapter practiced the essential element of Professional Development, and their focus was on Women in the Workforce. They built a Career Closet to offer professional clothing to support young women going to events or employment interviews in professional settings. The chapter began planning for the closet by developing a budget and a community partner list, designing the closet and writing out a materials list. The chapter officers also identified 30 young women in grades 9-12 for a focus group on topics such as externships/internships for employment, cultural diversity and how to plan for your future. They finalized the Career Closet and opened it for donations and utilization.
Dr. James A. Forrest Career and Technology Center (Maryland)
Making Bee Houses to Support a Native Pollinators Project
Students at Dr. James A. Forrest Career and Technology Center in Leonardtown, Maryland joined a hands-on conservation effort to build 18 bee houses as part of a new initiative to support native pollinators in Southern Maryland. The Building Habitat for Native Bees program was presented by Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay and Nurture Natives, a youth-led nonprofit. The event drew 39 students and several teachers, offering lessons on pollinators, pollination, honeybees versus solitary bees, and the lifecycle of mason bees. The initiative was inspired by a national collaboration that launched last fall and provides free Build-A-Bee House kits to Wild Ones chapters for educational outreach. Natural Resources Management instructor Dorothy Birch and her students coordinated the program at Forrest Tech as part of their SkillsUSA community service project.
Dublin High School (Georgia)
Replacing Grave Markers in a Forgotten Cemetery
Forgotten for decades, a cemetery in Dublin, Ga., known as “Cross the Creek” where African American history and family roots run deep, was rededicated and upgraded in 2015. Sadly, most tombstones or grave markers had been damaged or lost over the years. To remedy the situation, city officials reached out to Dublin High School’s SkillsUSA advisor and construction teacher Mike Shepard to see if his students could build new crosses for the gravesites. The students were eager — and honored — to use their skills for such a noble purpose. They decided to make the new crosses from PVC boards so they wouldn’t decay or rust. The city provided the materials and students from several classes worked on the project. The city mayor, other officials and 40 students representing SkillsUSA and other organizations at the high school attended a brief ceremony held before they installed the crosses.
East Butler High School (Nebraska)
Holding a Garage Sale to Support Renovation of Local Community Pool
Students in the East Butler High School SkillsUSA chapter raised $1,400 by holding a garage sale to support the renovation of a local community pool. Funds are being raised by several groups to help toward the goal of creating a revitalized Brainard Village Public Swimming Pool that can serve the community for years to come. The pool project received a county grant but needed additional funds to proceed with the engineering and construction bids needed to go forward on the project. The students joined others in the community to raise funds for the project by holding their garage sale. With the garage sale proceeds, they also donated to the Blue River Pet Rescue in Seward.
Fort Dodge Senior High School (Iowa)
Feeding our Future Garden Initiative for Preschool Students
SkillsUSA students at Fort Dodge Senior High School in Iowa teamed up with members of other CTSOs including HOSA and FCCLA to help teach younger children about food through Feeding Our Future, a series of lesson plans and activities for preschool students at Kids Kingdom. From building a garden to planting seeds, caring for the plants and more, the high school students taught the young children about gardening, nutrition, meal prep and buying groceries while enjoying some outdoor fun and new activities. The high school students spent hours doing research before they created instructional tools and plans for the project. The daycare children will get to eat from their own garden when they harvest, and these experiences will have a lasting impact on these children who are learning how to grow food while enjoying a fun activity.
Gibson Technical Center (Missouri)
Building Beds for Children Who Need Them
SkillsUSA students at Gibson Technical Center in Reed Springs, Mo. teamed up to build beds for Sleep in Heavenly Peace, a nonprofit providing high-quality beds for needy children who are forced to sleep on couches or floors every night. On Saturday morning, SkillsUSA members from the Construction, Early Childhood Education, Automotive, Collision, Health Technology, Printing and Culinary trades went to work and built 23 beds in about three hours.
Gloucester County Institute of Technology (New Jersey)
Toy Drive for the Ronald McDonald House
SkillsUSA members at Gloucester County Institute of Technology held a toy drive for the Ronald McDonald House (RMDH). The toy drive allowed students and the community to help families of seriously ill children during the holiday season. Families could focus on their children’s health and not worry about how they would find time or funds to purchase holiday gifts and over 500 toys were delivered — the largest donation they ever received. There were so many donations that the RMDH saved some to use for birthdays or special events. Members developed essential values, personality traits and personal characteristics for success on the job. Due to medical restrictions, all committee members couldn’t visit the RMDH. During the visit, members discovered a need for notepads for families to take notes about their children’s health during medical appointments. Members used recycled paper to make notepads and goodie bags to deliver to RMDH later.
Camden, N.J.
Greater Lowell Technical High School (Massachusetts)
Creating Tech Talk Tuesdays to Share Potential Careers
Chapter members started Tech Talk Tuesdays to share potential careers with young children attending the on-campus pre-school while helping members develop Job-Specific Skills as they practiced articulating what they learned in a clear and concise way. Students had to be able to answer questions about their career pathway, which pushed the members to think critically about their skills and how best to explain them. After the Tech Talks, preschoolers were given a SkillsUSA coloring sheet to take home which amplified the impact of the event. Later, the members surveyed the parents of the preschoolers to determine if knowledge was gained about careers, CTE and SkillsUSA and it was determined that 86% of the children had talked about the Tech Talks with their family. Students also gave Tech Talks to older audiences at their campus Open House, which was attended by over 3,000 people. Tech Talk Tuesdays was a year-long project that became the most successful and fun event in the Program of Work.
preschool to teach about career paths in the medical field.
Greater New Bedford RVTHS (Massachusetts)
Emphasizing the Importance of Supporting Each Other
Chapter officers formed a Mental Health Team to support a growing need at their school and used their skills to design and gather 800 signed pledge cards from students and adults at school and in the community that emphasized the importance of supporting each other. The chapter officers and Mental Health Team leaders then designed a message gram for students to voluntarily sign that included a positive message encouraging respect and kindness, which promoted personal growth for both the sender and the recipient. The students sold and distributed the message grams at school lunch shifts with proceeds donated to the Kyle Cares Foundation, a Massachusetts organization dedicated to promoting open communication about the mental health challenges teens face. The students also created and distributed 200 color-coded keychains, encouraging students to acknowledge and grow through their personal struggles. Keychains were attached to students’ backpacks as a visible way to promote mental health awareness and send a powerful message that your struggles do not define you.
Kofa High School (California)
Collecting Donations for Those in Need
Students at Kofa High School focused on the Essential Element of Self-Motivation with a focused theme of Gratitude is the Attitude! The students journaled about gratitude for basic needs and outlined how they will never take small things for granted, such as water, food, clothing and even toothpaste. They set a goal to collect enough donations to fill four pantry carts for four nonprofit organizations, ensuring four months’ worth of resources for each organization. They met their goal through ongoing outreach to students, staff, alumni and community members through social media, radio and newspapers to promote their efforts. Through the activity, students said that their goal of feeding and helping less fortunate people in their community was met and the food will last for months — but the impact of the awareness and mindset of giving to others can last a lifetime. Students said they learned that with a positive attitude and self-motivation, they believe they can accomplish anything now. They were proud to have accomplished the seven-month project with no budget or expenses, other than their time and effort. When the project was over, 95% of student members donated at least one item, 10% of donations were from past students and 35% of all donations were from generous businesses and community members.
Madison County Career Technology Center (Alabama)
Collecting Crayons for Children in Hospitals
When SkillsUSA students at Madison County Career Technology Center in Huntsville, Ala., started planning their service projects for the year they found the Crayon Initiative. The program collects new, used, broken and unwanted crayons, which are then melted into three-sided crayons for children in hospitals so they’re easy to grip and don’t roll off hospital tray tables. About 45 students from the Cyber Security, Cosmetology, Law enforcement, Fire, Welding, Auto Mechanics and Auto Collision classrooms participated in gathering crayons and promoting the project. They designed flyers, made boxes and reached out to the community. Staples donated the cost of printing the flyers. It quickly turned into a district wide competition when the student resource officer (SRO) suggested involving every elementary school in the Madison County School District. The project ended with an astounding 1,776.6 lbs. collected. According to the Crayon Initiative, this will allow more than 7,500 brand-new packs of crayons to be created and donated to children in more than 260 hospitals across the United States.
Maricopa High School (Arizona)
Raising Funds and Awareness for Youth Suicide Prevention
Maricopa High School students turned art into action with the launch of their Copa Creates Festival, a student-led event raising funds and awareness for youth suicide prevention. The festival was hosted by the Star Digital Design Club and was part of a SkillsUSA community service project. Attendees browsed and purchased handmade artwork from students and local artists and 85% of the proceeds benefitted the Arizona Suicide Prevention Coalition. The featured art ranged from paintings, sculpture and jewelry to clothing, hats and other textiles. The young entrepreneurs also learned valuable insights about what sells best and where they might adjust future designs. The students expressed that suicide is too prevalent in their demographic and that many young people struggle with mental health issues, so this is a way to provide practical support and encouragement in the community while showcasing student talents.
New Madrid Technical Skills Center (Mo.)
Providing Gifts and Food for Those in Need
For SkillsUSA members at New Madrid (Mo.) Technical Skills Center, the eagle is more than a majestic mascot; it represents noble ideals. One of the ways the school puts those ideals into action is through its annual Eagle Christmas, an event where SkillsUSA chapter members collaborate to support low-income children. The students presented a plan of action at a chapter meeting, established committees and assigned tasks to chapter members and staff. The social committee met with school counselors to make a list of local students lacking food and necessities. The public relations committee designed flyers for distribution to local businesses, posted information on social media sites and placed an ad in the local newspaper to inform the community about the effort. The community service committee held regular reviews to ensure goals were being met by providing checklists for each task. A total of 145 sponsors and several business owners fulfilled every child’s need on the list. In total, 164 at-risk children received clothing, hygiene products, school supplies and holiday gifts. More than 300 families received holiday meal boxes provided by the local food bank and grocery stores. During the annual project, student demonstrate the SkillsUSA Framework Essential Element of Planning, Organizing and Management through their attention to detail, perseverance in completing tasks and ongoing prioritization to achieve the desired results.
Niagara Career and Technical Education Center (New York)
Making Dog Treats for the Local Dog Shelter
SkillsUSA students from the Animal Science program at the Niagara Career and Technical Education Center in Sanborn, N.Y., made dog treats for two local shelters. The students were already discussing what type of community service project they’d perform for the year and decided to make treats for local dog shelters. They thought it would not be an economical chapter project but one that could provide comfort to dogs since treats are an easy way for staff and potential new families to bond with the dogs they meet. The students contacted the school’s food service teacher to see if her students could help bake the treats. They made different size treats for large or small dogs, and when finished they had two boxes filled with labeled dog treat bags which were then delivered to the shelters. The shelter directors were grateful for the treats, and the shelter dogs appreciated them too!
Pamlico County Middle School (North Carolina)
Collections of Food for the Food Bank and Aid for Hurricane Relief
The SkillsUSA chapter at Pamlico County Middle School in Bayboro, N.C. took action to support others in need. With an unwavering commitment to service, these young leaders collected more than 220 pounds of food for the Fishes & Loaves Outreach Food Bank, proving that middle schoolers can make a powerful impact on their community. In a heartwarming display of teamwork, compassion and school spirit, during the school’s homecoming football game students turned their popular shrimp sandwich fundraiser into a force for good. They raised an astounding $1,100 to aid hurricane relief efforts in Western North Carolina.
Providence Career and Technical Academy (Rhode Island)
Cosmetology Students Create Five Community Service Projects for the Community
When students at Providence Career and Technical Academy in Rhode Island planned community service efforts, three sophomores became friends as they successfully completed five community service projects during the school year. The trio leveraged the school’s Salon Saturdays Program to gain community support for their projects. On Salon Saturdays, area residents receive hair styling from the cosmetology students at a discounted price. When it was discovered that one reason some students didn’t want to return to school was because they didn’t have new clothes, the students started a clothing drive and gave $5 off hair services on Salon Saturdays if the clients donated clothing or a gift card. The team organized the clothes so other students could stop in and shop. Other projects included a blood drive, a baby shower for young pregnant women in the foster care system, and the collection of toothbrushes and toothpaste for a local daycare center.
South Arkansas College (Arkansas)
Creating Personalized Cards for the Local Nursing Home
The SkillsUSA chapter at South Arkansas College in El Dorado, Ark. found a heartfelt way to give back to their community while developing valuable professional skills. At a monthly chapter meeting, 55 students created nearly 100 personalized cards for residents at the local Hudson Memorial Nursing Home. This project marked the third consecutive year of spreading holiday cheer to the nursing home, solidifying it as a cherished tradition for the chapter. Divided into small groups, the students brainstormed ideas, designed festive cards and wrote messages of encouragement. The cards were then decorated with stickers and hand-drawn holiday scenes, reflecting the students’ artistic talents. The project taught the skills of Professionalism, Teamwork and Service in a meaningful and fun way to develop and practice skills that can be useful in any career. The students came from various career areas including Health Science, Welding, Criminal Justice and Automotive.
TCAT Harriman (Tennessee)
Machine Tool Technology Students Create a New Year’s Eve Ball Drop
When Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge executive director Billy Edmonds had an idea to host a New Year’s celebration event for the community, he asked the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) at Harriman for help. Machine tool technology students collaborated with their instructors and the Free Clinic to build a ball drop for their community New Year’s Eve celebration which took 10 months. They decided to make the ball in the shape of an atom because of the city’s historical involvement in the Manhattan Project and the development of the first atomic bomb. They used Autodesk Fusion360 to create 3D models and then created engineered drawings for the parts to be fabricated. Next, they chose bulbs and LED strips and calculated that about 1,900 lights would fit onto the ball. They also designed and 3D printed more than 1,000 clips to secure the lights in place. They programmed the ball to dance to the individual notes of songs they selected. Finally, they designed and engineered a pole with a cantilevering arm to support the 150 lb. ball. The arm had to be portable, so the pole and base could be mounted on a flatbed truck and broken down in two pieces for transport. The Free Medical Clinic provides free primary medical care for low-income or uninsured Tennessee residents and many of the school’s students use its services, so they were gratified to support the cause with their technical skills.
Tulsa Technology Center (Oklahoma)
Masonry Students Construct a 9/11 Tribute Wall
Masonry students at Tulsa Technology Center’s Lemley Campus in Oklahoma start the school year by constructing a 9/11 tribute wall to honor the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. SkillsUSA advisor Chauncey Kila says that the students return to school in August and have until Sept. 11 to complete their project. It is a thoughtful start to the year that combines a U.S. history lesson with masonry. The students discuss the impact on our nation of the three separate attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. and the United Airlines Flight 93 that crashed in Pennsylvania. Then they collaborated to design, plan and build a wall to honor the 2,996 lives lost that day. Each unique project is dedicated to the victims and to the bravery of the numerous citizens, police, fire and first responders involved in the tragedy. The morning and afternoon masonry classes jointly build the wall. While today’s students were not born when the attacks took place, they watch videos to understand the impact of the events. These memorials are a class project that unfolds into a history lesson that has meaning.
Upper Valley Career Center (Ohio)
Collecting Items for the Local Community Center and Food Pantry
The SkillsUSA chapter at Upper Valley Career Center in Piqua, Ohio made a difference when the students stepped up to fill a need in their local community. They partnered with the school’s Explore program to collect 1,005 items in December to be donated to the local community center and the food pantry. There were 568 students from 18 programs participating, building their Multicultural Sensitivity and Awareness skills as they learned to fill a need in the community and help others less fortunate. The students gained skills and had the opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of others!
Waverly-Shell Rock High School (Iowa) Green Bridge Project
Students Build a Bridge Memorial
Students in the SkillsUSA chapter created a memorial for the Waverly Green Bridge that had to be torn down. They met with the Waverly Historic Preservation Committee to discuss the design and funding and completed 3D designs of the memorial. They then used their skills with an oxyacetylene torch cutter and metal processing equipment to complete the service project. The students demonstrated proficiency in Planning, Management and Organization to create the sculpture.
Willow Canyon High School (Arizona)
Thanking Veterans with Cards
The SkillsUSA chapter at Willow Canyon High School in Surprise, Ariz. Decided to thank veterans with a written message while participating in a Veteran’s Day Parade. They used the Framework essential element of Planning Organization and Management in the project. They formed a committee, collected card design and banner ideas, and decided what members participating in the parade should wear. The card was designed and printed and six members walked in the Veteran’s Day Parade and handed out notecards along the route.
