Photo by Alexis Pratts.
When thousands of attendees filled the Georgia World Congress Center for the 62nd annual National Leadership & Skills Conference (NLSC) in early June, a lot of eyes were on the competition floor. But behind every competition that started on schedule, every station reset between rounds and every smoothly run competition area was a group many attendees might not have noticed: the National Courtesy Corps.
This year, 97 Courtesy Corps members — students and the advisors who worked right alongside them — served as the operational backbone of the SkillsUSA Championships, supporting the technical committees that make each competition possible.
Julie Vargas, chair for Cosmetology is grateful for the efforts of the Courtesy Corps. “There is tremendous peace of mind in knowing that I can rely on the Courtesy Corps,” she said. “They show up ready to work, take initiative, embrace every task with a positive attitude, and always represent SkillsUSA with pride. Their flexibility and commitment allow us to focus on delivering the best possible experience for our competitors, knowing that the countless behind-the-scenes details are in capable hands.”
Diana Kendrick, technical chair for the Medical Assisting Competition agrees. “Medical Assisting competition uses Courtesy Corps every year, and they just keep getting better,” she said.
Thomas Kostreba, technical chair for the Welding Fabrication competition, succinctly expressed the impact of Courtesy Corps members on his competition. “Our competition would be a hot mess without out their help,” he said.
A Working Week, Not a Watching Week
The National Courtesy Corps is a full-time commitment. Members arrive in Atlanta before the conference begins and report to the competition areas before most attendees have checked into their hotels. From there, the week is spent wherever the technical committees need them most — preparing and staging competition sites, assisting contestants and judges, and keeping all 115 contests moving.
Unlike other conference programs, Courtesy Corps members can’t split their time. There’s no signing up for other NLSC programs and no state or school obligations on the side.
The trade-off though is a view of the SkillsUSA Championships that no spectator gets.
Lauri Domer is the program specialist at SkillsUSA who oversees the NCC during NLSC. “Courtesy Corps isn’t just about volunteering,” Domer said. “It’s about leading through service. Every setup, every teardown, and every long day helps create a world-class experience for thousands of SkillsUSA members. Courtesy Corps is the backbone of the National Leadership & Skills Conference.”
Advisors in the Trenches, Too
The National Courtesy Corps isn’t a student-only operation. Every student member is accompanied by a state-approved chaperone — typically their instructor or SkillsUSA advisor — who participates fully in the program, performing the same duties and working the same schedule as their students. Members stay together in assigned campus housing near the convention center, with local transportation, meals and conference registration provided by SkillsUSA. None of it happens without industry backing. The 2026 National Courtesy Corps was sponsored by Volvo Construction Equipment, United Parcel Service (UPS), Academy for Media Production (AMP), Cushman & Wakefield and Tennant Company.
That side-by-side structure is part of what makes the program work: students see their advisors modeling the professionalism the SkillsUSA Framework teaches, one work assignment at a time.
Beyond the work itself, the National Courtesy Corps builds something harder to measure. “The volunteer community is one of the best parts of Courtesy Corps. It truly feels like a family,” Tennessee advisor Danyel Varnell said. “I love watching the kids build friendships that continue long after Nationals is over. It’s also amazing to watch them connect with students who share the same interests in different career paths and skilled trades. Those friendships and networking opportunities are just as valuable as the competitions themselves.”
Worth the Sweat
For the students, the Courtesy Corps offers something no other conference program can: a week embedded with industry. Technical committees are staffed by the professionals who design and judge each competition, and Courtesy Corps members work with them daily — a networking opportunity that turns a service role into a potential career-building one.
TalaCatori Varnell, from SkillsUSA Tennessee, is 13 years old and wanted to volunteer after seeing her parents, brother and sister serve on the Courtesy Corps over the years. “This was my first year, and I had so much fun,” she said. “I loved being able to help people and be part of something important. It made me feel proud knowing that even little things, like giving directions or answering questions, could make someone’s day easier.”
Madeline Rhodes, a former competitor from SkillsUSA Virginia, served on the Courtesy Corps in 2026. She decided to volunteer after seeing a friend serve the previous year. “I got to learn more about how much they got to help out and get to see the inner workings of the whole operation,” she said. “I knew right then and there I wanted to come back the following year.”
While pointing out the early hours aren’t for everyone, Rhodes still thinks it’s worthwhile. “The hours are long, the labor is hard, nor is this for everyone [but] it’s all worth the sweat and achy joints, or at least it is for me, since I get to explore and learn more about the workforce. And of course, I get to trade pins whenever I get a chance to!”
Experience NLSC from the Inside
For students looking for a different way to experience the national conference — closer to the action, closer to industry and essential to both — the National Courtesy Corps is the assignment.
SkillsUSA returns to Atlanta for NLSC 2027, June 21-25, and the National Courtesy Corps will be there first — arriving June 19 and working through June 26. Nominations open March 1, and candidates will need to work with their chapter advisor and SkillsUSA state director to apply.
To learn more, visit nlsc.skillsusa.org/courtesy-corps or contact Lauri Domer at ldomer@skillsusa.org.
