Photo by Craig Moore.
Just like SkillsUSA is growing, the Washington Leadership Training Institute (WLTI) gets bigger and better every year. The 2024 WLTI boasted the highest participation numbers ever, with 581 attendees representing 28 states.
The Washington, D.C. event offered advanced leadership and advocacy training for SkillsUSA students, teachers and state leaders. Participants also got the chance to tour local monuments, lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery and — perhaps most impressively — advocate for career and technical education to their elected representatives on Capitol Hill.
As the conference kicked off on Saturday, Sept. 21, Executive Director Chelle Travis reminded the members they were about to embark on a life-changing experience. “You are living proof that SkillsUSA students are the total package, equipped with the technical skills grounded in academics and the personal and workplace skills that make you career-ready and life-ready. With that skill set, you have the ability to unleash your full potential personally and professionally. It’s important to identify and align your strengths, values and goals to create a roadmap for achieving success.” The group was excited and highly motivated for the week that was about to unfold.
Learning to Tell Your SkillsUSA Story
On Sunday, Sept. 22, the groups broke into huddles to hone their SkillsUSA Framework stories and work on the Essential Elements of professionalism, communication and leadership skills. After morning training for students and advisors, everyone gathered in the main ballroom for lunch and an advocacy panel to set the stage for Tuesday’s visits to Congress. Knowing they would have an incredible opportunity to advocate for SkillsUSA to their elected representatives on Capitol Hill meant taking time to prepare for the experience.
The advocacy panelists included Brian Arata, legislative director to Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson, David Jordan, director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Social Responsibility at Aerotek, Jimmy Koch, government relations manager for ACTE, Richard Montgomery, public policy director for NAPE and Steve Voytek, federal policy advisor for Advance CTE. “The most important thing is your story and building the bridge as much as possible from what you all are doing to how it impacts the economy and how it impacts our environment and everyday life. How do we tie that story to all of the things that go on in a daily basis?” Jordan asked the members.
Training continued Sunday afternoon and the day concluded with a twilight tour of the Washington, D.C. monuments by bus, with a moving closing message by the national officers at the Jefferson Memorial.
On Monday, Sept. 23, students were up early wearing their official teal conference T-shirts and headed into Washington, D.C. to the nation’s capital to visit museums and explore the city where national news evolves daily. Students were tired after a busy day on their feet, but there was no rest for the weary — it was time for Statesman Interviews on Monday night! Students dressed in their official SkillsUSA attire for personal conversations that took place one-on-one with interviewers who captured what members have been learning at this conference and how their advocacy can be applied when they go back home.
Students like Mia Arias Pince from New Jersey understand that these advocacy efforts are important for the future of their career and technical schools. “Attending WLTI offered our members the opportunity to advocate for federal funding that impacts our futures as CTE students,” said the SkillsUSA New Jersey State President. Pince is a culinary student at Mercer County Technical Schools, Sypek campus. “With this experience, as a culinary student, we’re going to be cooking up something much bigger now!”
Heading to the Hill
Tuesday morning, the Hill was blanketed with SkillsUSA’s eye-catching red blazers, as hundreds of members converged in front of the U.S. Capitol for a group photo to mark their day of advocacy on Capitol Hill. From there, student delegations who were feeling nervous, but also confident in their knowledge, set off on hundreds of simultaneous constituent visits to senators and representatives and/or their staffs to share their SkillsUSA stories and how CTE is benefitting them, their schools and communities.
A week to be remembered wrapped up Tuesday night with a celebration dinner and Statesman Awards, and all too soon it was time to pack for home. National officer Kallie Allen, the High School President from Massachusetts, summed up the value of the conference at the start of the week by telling the members, “Think about a time when you felt represented. Who made you feel this way? Now, remember this feeling and consider the career and technical education students in your school and state. While you begin your journey this week, picture those faces. They are exactly who you are representing in our nation’s proud capital. These are the members of SkillsUSA that are looking to you for support. Ask yourself how you can use your position to help others? The answer is advocacy. Take this chance to embrace every learning opportunity, make connections, and deepen your understanding of career and technical education. Talking to your state’s elected officials might seem scary, but don’t worry. The training you’ll get here will light the torch that guides you. As you grow into quality leaders, never forget the builders, the computer scientists, the chefs, and the welders who aren’t here to share their stories. They are counting on YOU to speak for them. As you advocate for SkillsUSA and CTE, you channel the strength of their voices, creating an even stronger, unified voice for change.”
Students, advisors and state SkillsUSA directors headed home on Wednesday feeling the impact of a life-changing conference where friends and memories were made as skills were grown. Generations of SkillsUSA members have attended WLTI and carried their advocacy torch forward into their schools and communities and now the light has been passed on to this newest group of emerging leaders.
The 2024 WLTI conference was sponsored by American Honda, RB Global and Power for Good and was open to all members.
See Craig Moore’s 2024 WLTI photo album.
