Congrats to Carrie Wolf and Caitlin Horner on their success at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference!
SkillsUSA Arizona Excels at 2013 NLSC
2013 SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference, Kansas City, MO
SkillsUSA returned to Kansas City June 24-28, 2013 for its 49th annual National Leadership and Skills Conference, a showcase of career and technical education students. More than 15,000 students, teachers, education leaders, and representatives from more than 1,100 national corporations, trade associations, businesses and labor unions participated in the event.
The 2013 SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference officially began on Wednesday, June 26, at the Opening Ceremony sponsored by Caterpillar. Mike Rowe, creator and executive producer of Discovery Channel’s Emmy-nominated series “Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe” provided the keynote speech at the event. Rowe introduced a new initiative from the mikeroweWorks™ Foundation called “Profoundly Disconnected,” a PR campaign specifically designed to address the country’s widening skills gap, while calling attention to career opportunities that don’t require a four-year degree.
A special highlighted event will be the annual SkillsUSA Championships. The SkillsUSA Championships is the national-level competition for public high school and college/postsecondary technical students enrolled in Career and Technical Education programs. SkillsUSA organizes this event, and it is considered the single greatest day of industry volunteerism in America annually at an estimated cost of more than $35 million. Each contestant is a state-level gold medalist. Originated in 1967, the SkillsUSA Championships has grown from 54 competitors in three contests to more than 5,900 competitors in 98 hands-on skill and leadership contests this year. SkillsUSA adds contests to the SkillsUSA Championships to meet the demands of new and expanding occupations. SkillsUSA affiliated instructional programs represent 130 different occupational areas.
The Arizona Association of SkillsUSA received an impressive number of awards at this year’s NLSC. Arizona students earned top honors in 3-D Visualization and Animation, Computer Programming, Humanoid Robotics, Pin Design, Plumbing, Prepared Speech, Web Design, and Welding Fabrication. Top student winners received gold, silver and bronze medallions. Many also received prizes such as tools of their trade and/or scholarships to further their careers and education. In addition, 38 Arizona contestants received Skill Point Certificates. The Skill Point Certificate was awarded in 86 occupational and leadership areas to students who achieved a high score defined by industry. A complete listing of medalists can be found at http://skillsusa-register.org/rpts/EventMedalists.aspx
SkillsUSA is a national partnership of students, teachers and industry, working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA chapters help students who are preparing for careers in technical, skilled and service occupations to excel. SkillsUSA has more than 300,000 students and instructors as members.