1) Lowes does have its sponsorship again this year, so look that over if you are interested in getting $25K for a school/community project. I will be asking about TeamWorks next month, and will need commitments on that in December.
2) Do you have a member who can sing an awesome National Anthem?
3) National Pin and T-shirt design contest – this is different than the Nebraska SkillsUSA Pin and t-shirt contest!!
4) Time to start considering what your chapter can do for SkillsUSA Week!!
5) Can your chapter members get the below Public Service Announcement (PSA) to your local radio station? Mike Rowe is a great partner for us!!
6) National Youth Safety Video contest for nationals
Important Dates
Dec. 7-8 SkillsUSA Board of Directors Meeting via Webinar
February 2016 Career and Technical Education Month
Feb. 7-13 SkillsUSA Week
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT
Staff Visits Future Conference Sites
On Nov. 1-3, Shelly Coates, Ashley Ridgeway, Dave Worden and I traveled to Atlanta to conduct a site visit for the next national conference bid from 2021-26. Atlanta, Houston and Louisville, Ky., are the three cities being considered. In Atlanta, we visited the Georgia World Congress Center, where 1.3 million square feet of useable space and more than 100 meeting rooms could accommodate the NLSC and still allow room for growth. The team also toured six hotels within a few blocks of the convention center that have ample meeting space and over 6,300 sleeping rooms. The site visit continued with tours of two arenas and auxiliary meeting space. We were also introduced to multiple transportation and entertainment options. The city brought together key community leaders, such as Chief of Police George Turner, the vice commissioner for Georgia economic development and other city and state officials. Our state association director Ashley Brown participated in a portion of the events and was accompanied by several local and state SkillsUSA supporters who pledged to further support the national event should this city be selected. Other guests included Carol Burke from the Georgia Department of Education and Scott Shelor, CEO of the Construction Education Foundation of Georgia. There were great meetings with city safety, security and many other service providers, including a vast variety of food services, whose staff answered multiple questions about the different aspects of the conference. The same team of SkillsUSA staff will be in Houston for the final site visit next week, in preparation for the board's conference review committee meeting Nov. 17-18 in Leesburg. The committee will be hearing presentations from all three cities Nov. 18.
Honors for a Major Supporter at NCCER
I flew from Atlanta to Jacksonville, Fla., where the board of trustees of the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) met Nov. 4-5. I was privileged to assist in honoring Boyd Worsham for his service to NCCER and SkillsUSA at a special reception Wednesday evening. Boyd chairs our national Carpentry competition and does an outstanding job. A former SkillsUSA member and competitor, he now serves as the vice president of the Haskell Company, a major design/build firm in Jacksonville. During the full board meeting on Thursday, I was asked to provide a SkillsUSA update and share the data from the recent "Inspiring the Next Generation Workforce" that was released on Manufacturing Day by SkillsUSA, the Manufacturing Institute and the Education Research Center of America (ERCA). It is always great to spend quality time with some of the nation's largest and best commercial contractors. They do a lot for SkillsUSA and for the U.S. economy.
HIGHLIGHTS
· In coordination with Mike Rowe and the mikeroweWORKS Foundation, staff member Tom Kercheval produced 30- and 60-second audio PSAs that address the skills gap and position SkillsUSA as a solution to that problem. An announcement with links to the PSAs was sent to more than 2,000 radio PSA directors across the nation this week. To listen, go to: www.skillsusa.org/membership-resources/chapters/communications-and-marketing/public-service-announcements/. We also encourage everyone to pass these PSAs along to your own local radio stations.
· Gayle Silvey and Kelly Horton recently traveled to New Jersey, and Tom Kercheval joined them in Atlanta, to capture footage from Models of Excellence chapters and sound bites for next year's membership kit, Jump into STEM! and chapter meeting footage for educational resources and general use.
That's all for now. Thanks for all you do for the great students and teachers we serve.
GET THE LATEST ON LOWE'S GRANTS
Lowe's continues a seventh year of generosity with another round of SkillsUSA grants in 2016. Grant information and the application are now available on the SkillsUSA website at: www.skillsusa.org/membership-resources/grants/lowes/. The guidelines and focus of the grant program are changed slightly from years past.
The focus of the 2016 SkillsUSA Lowe's grant program will be significant community service projects. Grants of up to $25,000 will be awarded. Only one application per school will be accepted.
The best proposed projects will:
· provide a life-changing experience for the SkillsUSA students involved and the beneficiaries of the grant dollars
· demonstrate a well-articulated planned partnership with engagement from local Lowe's store team(s)
· show impact in the community — How many SkillsUSA students participated? How many members of the community were affected?
· show collaboration with other organizations and show sustainability
· show active use of social media to promote and document the project
· be improvement projects that use Lowe's as a resource (employee knowledge and/or products available at Lowe's)
Questions? Join a webinar!
Join us for a webinar Nov. 20 at 10 a.m. EST
Register now at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7207987384870381314
Join us for a webinar Nov. 20 at 3 p.m. EST
Register now at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2928804677798794498
Join us for a webinar Nov. 23 at 9 a.m. EST
Register now at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3976530407417866498
Join us for a webinar Nov. 23 at 1 p.m. EST
Register now at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/9097768597063684610
Still have questions? Please send an email to LowesGrants@skillsusa.org. The deadline for grant applications is Dec. 20 at 11:59 p.m. EST. Late applications will not be accepted. Please review the grant guidelines to be sure that applications are properly completed and submitted.
CENGAGE LEARNING LAUNCHES NEW MEMBER BENEFIT
SkillsUSA announces a new partnership with Cengage Learning to offer members online courses at a reduced rate. The program will benefit the SkillsUSA Alumni and Friends Association, which will receive a percentage of all sales. While focused toward alumni, the program is open to any SkillsUSA member. The learning options include long and short courses and can be used for independent study, flipped classroom or professional development. There are more than 300 online courses on a variety of topics including software, starting a business and leadership development. Most classes can be completed in about six weeks. There is also a Career Transitions platform of tools including résumé building, interview practice and career assessments. To take a look or to sign up for classes, go to: www.ed2go.com/pages/skillsusa/. Thanks to Cengage Learning for its support of our alumni.
CHECK OUT THESE SCHOLARSHIPS
SkillsUSA STEM Scholarship
SkillsUSA is proud to continue the SkillsUSA STEM Scholarship established by Air Products. This scholarship program is part of SkillsUSA's newly created STEM Fund. The STEM Fund will help raise public awareness that career and technical education is STEM. (STEM refers to a curriculum educating students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.)
Scholarships will be awarded through a competitive application process to SkillsUSA students (graduating seniors in high school as well as college/postsecondary students) whose area of study will lead them into a STEM-related field.
Online applications are due March 15. Please note that uploaded attachments must be typed, error free, complete and uploaded in a Microsoft Word document (.doc) or PDF format. Scholarship winners will be notified by April 15. Checks will be sent to winners' schools.
www.skillsusa.org/membership-resources/scholarships-financial-aid/skillsusa-stem-science-technology-engineering-mathematics-scholarship/
SUBMIT YOUR TECHNICAL PROGRAM FOR THE EXCELLENCE IN ACTION AWARDS
The National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium (NASDCTEc) has announced the third annual Excellence in Action award to recognize and honor superior career technical education (CTE) programs of study.
Selected programs will exemplify excellence in the implementation of the career clusters, and have impact on student achievement and success. Winners will be honored at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.
This is an opportunity to have your program recognized on a national level in the media or at conferences throughout the year. The 2015 award winners were honored at the White House and at the ACTE national conference, as well as had mentions in local and national news media. Click here to learn more or apply for the award: www.careertech.org/excellence-action-award. All application materials should be received at NASDCTEc by Wednesday, Dec. 9, at 5 p.m. EST.
GET READY TO … JUMP INTO STEM!
SkillsUSA members are bridging the gap between elementary-age students and STEM careers with the groundbreaking new program Jump into STEM! Elementary-age participants take part in dynamic and interactive experiences facilitated by SkillsUSA members. Jump into STEM! materials are detailed and organized to make facilitation simple, yet power-packed, with information that will engage participants in a meaningful experience and intentional learning. The curriculum provides 22 interactive and memorable sessions, each written to introduce elementary students to different STEM careers and career clusters, as well as the value of SkillsUSA. During the sessions, chapter members introduce themselves, present activities that engage student learning and share specific career cluster and occupational information. The curriculum includes two sessions for 11 of the Career Clusters.
Jump into STEM! is a free member benefit of SkillsUSA professional membership. Professional members receive an automatic email upon submitting membership that includes a PIN for easy access into Jump into STEM! and the Career Readiness Curriculum, both of which are conveniently located on the advisor login page of the SkillsUSA registration site.
AMAZON SMILE PURCHASES BENEFIT SKILLSUSA
As we begin to think about the upcoming holidays and gift purchases, please know that Amazon Smile will donate .05 percent of the purchase price of eligible products purchased through Amazon.com to SkillsUSA. Please use this link to make your purchases: http://smile.amazon.com/ch/23-7122568. Many thanks for your support!
WIN SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS
The Women's Industry Network (WIN) is committed to financially supporting female students who demonstrate their desire to excel in the field of collision repair/refinishing technology.
The College Student Tuition and Conference Scholarship Award is presented to female students enrolled in a college/postsecondary collision repair/refinishing technology program. Each scholarship recipient will receive a $1,000 scholarship to continue her postsecondary education in collision repair, as well as a one-year WIN membership. Some recipients will also be selected to receive the registration fee and travel expenses to attend the 2016 WIN Education Conference.
The High School Tuition Scholarship Award is presented to female students enrolled in a secondary collision repair/refinishing technology program who plan to continue their studies at a technical school or college. Each scholarship winner will receive a $1,000 scholarship to continue her postsecondary education in collision repair and a one-year WIN membership.
The deadline for applications is Jan. 15. For scholarship requirement details and submission instructions, go to: www.thewomensindustrynetwork.ning.com/page/scholarships. For more information about the WIN scholarship program, please contact: Bev Rook-Twibell at 816-678-4777 or email Beverly.rook@safelite.com.
CALL FOR SKILLSUSA TALENT REMINDER
Do you have a talented singer in your state who would enjoy a special performance opportunity? SkillsUSA seeks talented singers for the opening ceremony during the 2016 SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference. We are looking for a SkillsUSA student, alumni or professional member to sing the national anthem. Singers may sing a capella or to a pre-recorded instrumental track. Audition tapes must be the singing of the national anthem.
Send in all audition videotapes of the national anthem only on CD or DVD, to be received (not postmarked) by Feb. 1 to: Heidi Walsh, SkillsUSA, 14001 SkillsUSA Way, Leesburg, VA 20176. NOTE: Items must be received by Feb. 1, not postmarked. Questions may be directed to Heidi at 703-737-0615 or hwalsh@skillsusa.org.
UPCOMING WORK FORCE READY SYSTEM WEBINARS!
Please join us for one or more webinars on the Skill Connect® Assessments, part of the Work Force Ready System. You must register using the links below to participate in the webinars. Once you register, you will receive an email with information on how to join.
Teacher Tips for Student Success — Skill Connect® Assessments
Date: Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015 4 p.m.-5 p.m. ET
Learn how you can better prepare your students for the Skill Connect® Assessment process. Useful tips and tools will be shared with the participants. Topics covered: various resources available to prepare students and where to find them, blueprint overview, overview of Skill Connect Certificates and reporting tools.
Registration URL: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4895674848439796482
Webinar ID: 144-555-435
Incorporating the Skill Connect® Assessments into Your Student Learning Process
Date: Thursday, Nov. 19, 2015 4 p.m.-5 p.m. ET
Learn about the Skill Connect Assessment system and how the up-to-date, affordable system can be incorporated into your programs. This unique assessment system was created by industry to validate students' entry-level knowledge and skills. Learn about the media-rich system that engages students in the assessment process to better validate their knowledge and skills. Plus, see the dynamic reporting tools and the various preparation resources available that teachers and administrators can use for program improvement and student success.
Registration URL: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5209310540262974978
Webinar ID: 141-054-355
Look for other training webinars to assist with online ordering and management tools in our archives at: http://www.workforcereadysystem.org/faqsupport/webinars.
TAKE UP THE CHALLENGE!
NATIONAL CONFERENCE PIN AND T-SHIRT DESIGN
Calling all talented designers! Feb. 1 is the deadline for entries to the SkillsUSA National Conference Pin and T-shirt Design Challenge. This event is open to all paid student members of SkillsUSA. This is a great way to have a student and advisor from your school recognized. Rules are posted on the SkillsUSA website at: www.skillsusa.org/competitions/pin-design-contest/. Questions may be directed to Heidi Walsh at 703-737-0615 or by email to hwalsh@skillsusa.org.
HP LIFE UPDATES — SAME GREAT CONTENT, NEW PLATFORM
We are pleased to share some exciting news from HP LIFE. In late November, HP LIFE e-Learning will move to a new platform powered by EdCast, one of the world's leading open online education providers. But don't worry, you won't miss out on any of the things you love about HP LIFE.
· The URL will remain the same — it is still www.life-global.org/go/skillsusa
· The content in the courses will remain the same, just organized slightly differently
· Students will still have the opportunity to earn certificates by completing this material
Action Needed by Users
To make this transition as smooth as possible for you and your students, you need to do a few things.
1. When you log into HP LIFE, you should be getting a message asking you to "opt in." Please have everyone opt in. Or, you may have been getting emails reminding you to opt in with a link. Either way will work. If you aren't sure if you have opted in, you can do so at the link below. Opting in allows your HP LIFE account to be transferred to the new platform without the need to create a new account.
2. Visit the HP LIFE e-Learning opt-in Web page at: http://tinyurl.com/pfocy93.
3. Download and save certificates, transcripts and business plans that you have earned or are working on. The certificates should transition to the new platform without any issues, but it is always better to take precautions. The transcripts will not be immediately available but will eventually flow to the new system. And, the business plans are turning into a downloadable resource that will be available in the educator section on the new platform.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to Kim Norbuta at kimnorbuta@gmail.com.
DUE DATES
Nov. 15 Membership registration deadline to receive Ignite
Nov. 24 Verizon Innovative App Challenge entry deadline
Nov. 30 National Advisor of the Year applications due to Jeri Widdowson
Dec. 1 Lowe's Social Media Campaign Challenge entries due
Jan. 15 WIN Scholarship applications due
Feb. 1 Pin and T-shirt Design Challenge entries due
Feb. 1 National Anthem audition tapes due
March 1 National Youth Safety Video Contest entries due
March 15 SkillsUSA STEM Scholarship applications due
April 1 President's Volunteer Service Award applications due
April 29 Sharon Melton Myers Memorial Scholarship applications due
May 1 SkillsUSA Alumni and Friends Merit Scholarship applications due
SkillsUSA: Champions at Work
