SkillsUSA

Applications are now open for the Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence 😱 The prize recognizes outstanding instruction in the skilled trades in U.S. public high schools and the teachers who inspire students to learn skills to prepare for life after graduation. In 2025, Harbor Freight will award $1.5 million in cash prizes to 25 skilled trades teachers and their programs 💰 In 2024, the prize recognized 12 SkillsUSA instructors as winners! Applications must be received by May 2. Finalists will be announced June 10 and winners will be announced this fall. #SkillsUSA #WorkforceDevelopment #SkilledTrades

SkillsUSA Social Media Specialist Brooke Gatchell joined skilled trades advocate Andrew Brown on his podcast, The Lost Art of the Skilled Trades, to dive into all things SkillsUSA, Career and Technical Education (CTE), and the National Leadership & Skills Conference (NLSC) in Atlanta this June! Listen via Spotify or Apple linked below for insider insights and an engaging conversation about the future of the skilled trades 🎙️🔧 Apple Podcast https://shorturl.at/aofSE Spotify https://shorturl.at/vhq5D #SkillsUSA #CTE #SkilledTrades #WorkforceDevelopment

🎉 SkillsUSA Sets All-Time Membership Record 🎉    SkillsUSA has surpassed 438,000 members, breaking last year’s record with 25,000 more students and educators joining the #1 workforce development organization for students. Membership is still growing ahead of the National Leadership & Skills Conference (June 23-27, Atlanta)—the largest gathering of America’s future skilled workforce.    As demand for skilled workers rises, SkillsUSA students stand out with the technical and workplace skills employers need. With nearly 15 million members served since 1965, SkillsUSA continues to shape the future of America’s workforce 💪   #SkillsUSA #WorkforceDevelopment #SkilledTrades #NLSC25

🎉 Congratulations to our National Pin and T-Shirt Design Challenge winners 🎉 Their designs will come to life and make their debut at the National Leadership & Skills Conference this June in Atlanta 💫 #SkillsUSA #NLSC25

✍️ Registration for SkillsUSA National Signing Day is now open! ✍️   Host your Signing Day on May 6 or a date that works best for your chapter—just be sure to register and be part of this nationwide celebration 🎉   Register by March 31 to unlock exclusive incentives like hats, shirts and event starter kits 😱 The final deadline to register is April 30—don’t miss out! Visit signingday.skillsusa.org to sign up and access your event planning toolkit.   A huge thank you to Lowe's Foundation, 3M, State Farm, and NAPA Auto Parts for making this event possible!   #SkillsUSANationalSigningDay

Celebrating this achievement of SkillsUSA alumna and national staff member Courtney Ferrell, CAE, highlighting how her SkillsUSA, education and career journey led her to become our Director of Conference, Meeting, and Event Management 👏

In celebration of Women’s History Month, we recognize Crist Morillon, whose passion for mechanics led her to study automotive technology at Metro Tech High School. Through SkillsUSA, she gained confidence, leadership skills, and a silver medal in Prepared Speech. Now a Service Technician at Lucid Motors, Crist is breaking barriers in the automotive industry, proving that women in skilled trades are driving change! 🚗 A huge thank you to TechForce Foundation for featuring one of our incredible SkillsUSA alumni and for your continued partnership in supporting the next generation of skilled professionals! #SkillsUSA #WomensHistoryMonth #WorkforceDevelopment TechForce Foundation

As Career and Technical Education month comes to an end, I would like to reflect on the efforts made by our SkillsUSA National Officer team this month. During SkillsUSA week, the National Officer team has the opportunity to spend the week in Washington D.C. advocating for CTE. We kickstarted the week with a meeting at the National Association of Home Builders, discussing the importance of skilled labor in their industry. I was pleased to hear their support for technical education and the significance they place on these students. Our officers facilitated virtual chapter visits to chapters across the country. In the D.C. community, we divided up our group to visit two local chapters; Garnett-Patterson S.T.A.Y. and Theodore Roosevelt High School. Being in the Garnett-Patterson S.T.A.Y., I had the opportunity to communicate the mission of SkillsUSA and encourage a way that these members could get involved in SkillsUSA initiatives. We even featured a few members on our Members on the Street podcast. For Advocacy Day, our team met with the policy staff of Senator Alex Padilla from California, Senator Bill Hagerty from Tennessee, and Senator Bill Cassidy from Louisiana to spread the influence of SkillsUSA on career and technical education. These visits were incredibly impactful, as we hope to increase the support that our treasured education receives across the nation. We concluded our week with a visit with 3M's advocacy arm, where we discussed opportunities for collaboration and ways that SkillsUSA can assist with their initiatives. Overall, this month has underscored the significance of CTE and the collective efforts of our National Officer team to advocate for its future. Thank you to everyone who contributed to making this month a success! #SkillsUSA #SkillsUSAWeek #CTEMonth

As SkillsUSA’s National College/Postsecondary President, Pamela Williams embodies resilience, leadership, and adaptability. Winning gold in Early Childhood Education reinforced her ability to overcome challenges and think on her feet—skills that will serve her for life. Inspired by Michelle Obama and the many Black leaders who have paved the way, she is committed to advocating for inclusivity, mentorship, and empowerment, ensuring future generations have the opportunity to rise and lead. #SkillsUSA #CTEMonth #BlackHistoryMonth

As part of #CTEMonth, I want to highlight the Coalition for Workforce Development through CTE's mission is to address the nation’s skills gap through a collaborative approach that connects business and industry, employers, workforce development efforts, and career and technical education programs to achieve a skilled and diverse workforce. SkillsUSA's Deputy Executive Director Gayle Silvey serves on the Advisory Council, and we look forward to hosting coalition members this June at the National Leadership & Skills Conference in Atlanta. There's great work happening to advance career and technical education, and SkillsUSA is playing a meaningful role! #CTEMonth #SkillsUSA #WorkforceDevelopment