STATE LEADERSHIP & SKILLS CONFERENCE MAY 1-3, 2008
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What is SkillsUSA?
SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry representatives,
working together to ensure America has a skilled work force.
It helps each
student excel. SkillsUSA is a national nonprofit organization serving teachers
and high school and college students who are preparing for careers in trade,
technical and skilled service occupations, including health occupations. It
was formerly known as VICA (Vocational Industrial Clubs of America).
SkillsUSA Pledge
Upon my honor, I pledge:
To prepare myself by diligent study and ardent practice to become a worker whose services will be recognized as honorable by my employer and fellow workers.
To base my expectations of reward upon the solid foundation of service.
To honor and respect my vocation in such a way as to bring repute to myself.
And further, to spare no effort in upholding the ideals of SkillsUSA.
For more information on SkillsUSA News and Events, go to
Overview: SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry representatives, working together to ensure America has a skilled work force. It helps each student to excel. SkillsUSA is a national organization serving teachers and high school and college students who are preparing for careers in technical, skilled and service occupations, including health occupations. SkillsUSA was formerly known as VICA (the Vocational Industrial Clubs of America).
Membership: More than 285,000 student and instructors join SkillsUSA annually, organized into more than 15,000 sections and 54 state and territorial associations. SkillsUSA has served more than 9.3 million members.
Mission: SkillsUSA is an applied method of instruction for preparing America’s high performance workers in public career and technical programs. It provides quality education experiences for students in leadership, teamwork, citizenship and character development. It builds and reinforces self-confidence, work attitudes and communications skills. It emphasizes total quality at work: high ethical standards, superior work skills, life-long education, and pride in the dignity of work. SkillsUSA also promotes underst
Partners: Currently, 15,166 teachers and school administrators serve as professional SkillsUSA members and instructors. More than 1,100 business, industry and labor sponsors actively support SkillsUSA at the national level through financial aid, in-kind contributions, and involvement of their people in SkillsUSA activities. Many more work directly with state associations and local chapters.anding of the free-enterprise system and involvement in community service.
Programs: SkillsUSA programs include local, state and national competitions in which students demonstrate occupational and leadership skills. At the annual national-level SkillsUSA Championships, over 5,000 students compete in 87 occupational and leadership skill areas. SkillsUSA programs also help to establish industry standards for job skill training in the lab and classroom, and promote community service. SkillsUSA is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and is cited as a "successful model of employer-driven youth development training program" by the U.S. Department of Labor. The Professional Development Program (PDP) teaches 84 workplace skill competencies in a series of hands-on self-paced lessons. The Total Quality Curriculum (TQC) trains students through activity-based
instruction in the quality improvement process used by industry. Student2Student Mentoring gives high school students a chance to mentor younger students in the area of career development. The Career Skills Education Program (CSEP) contains 49 online lessons teaching basic employment and life skills to college/post secondary
students. Student2Student Mentoring gives high school students a chance to mentor
younger students in the area of career development. Career Safe is a credentialed
10-hour online training program developed in cooperation with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to provide students with basic knowledge of safety and a credential desired in the job market. Workplace Readiness Certification
demonstrates student attainment of employability skills. It requires successful
completion of a written exam prepared with NOCTI (National Occupational Competency Testing Institute) and NASDCTE, the consortium of state directors of Career and Technical Education.
SkillsUSA Creed
I believe in the dignity of work
I hold that society has advanced to its present culture through the use of the worker's hands and mind. I will maintain a feeling of humbleness for the knowledge and skills that I receive from professionals, and I will conduct myself with dignity in the work I do.
I believe in the American way of life
I know our culture is the result of freedom of action and opportunities won by the
founders of our American republic, and I will uphold their ideals.
I believe in education
I will endeavor to make the best use of knowledge, skills and experience that I will learn in order that I may be a better worker in my chosen occupation and a better citizen in my community. To this end,I will continue my learning now and in the future.
I believe in fair play
I will, through honesty and fair play, respect the rights of others. I will always conduct myself in the manner of the best professionals in my occupation and treat those with whom I work as I would like to be treated.
I believe satisfaction is achieved by good work
I feel that compensation and personal satisfaction received for my work and services will be in proportion to my creative and productive ability.
I believe in high moral and spiritual standards
I will endeavor to conduct myself in such a manner as to set an example for others by living a wholesome life and by fulfilling my responsibilities as a citizen of my community.
SkillsUSA Attire
Wearing the official SkillsUSA attire adds a sense of unity and identification to meetings and activities. Members are encouraged to strictly follow the guidelines for official attire during ceremonies, visits with dignitaries, officer campaigns and similar occasions. For a diagram and detailed information, see the SkillsUSA Leadership Handbook or ASK: Advisor's Success Kit.
Official attire for women:
Red SkillsUSA blazer, windbreaker or sweater
White collarless or small-collared blouse or white turtleneck (collar must not extend over the blazer lapel or the sweater or windbreaker)
Black dress skirt (knee-length) or black dress slacks
Black shoes
Official attire for men:
Red SkillsUSA blazer, windbreaker or sweater
White dress shirt
Plain solid black tie
Black dress slacks
Black dress shoes
To order official clothing and work uniforms for competition, go to the
SkillsUSA Supply Service tab at www.skillsusa.org
DISTRICT CONFERENCE RESULTS
District Conference Results will be forwarded to Section Advisors on or before March 14, 2008. Please do not send students to the Chapter Advisors for score results! As soon as we have them, you will have them!
STATE CONFERENCE NEWS: All students competing at the State Conference are required
to submit a typed one-page resume as part of their contest requirements.
Tool lists, contest outlines and dress code information for the
technical events at the SkillsUSA State Leadership and Skills Conference
will be available after March 20, 2008. Once this information is received by your Chapter Advisors, it will be forward to the Section Advisors immediately!
State Conference Paperwork is DUE ON OR BEFORE FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2008.
Any student who does not submit a completed paperwork
package by that date will be dropped from the event roster.
Collision Repair Contest changes - important
The national organization has made the decision to split the Collision Repair event into two separate events: Collision Repair Technology and Automotive Refinishing. Since this was a last minute decision which was not adequately communicated to state associations, the SkillsUSA Massachusetts Board of Directors has decided on the following course of action to supply contestants to both events at the National level for 2008
In Massachusetts there will be only one contest, which will encompass the skills for both Collision Repair Technology and Automotive Refinishing (the contest will be the same as in previous years at the Massachusetts Championships)
District exams will encompass the skills for both Collision
Repair Technology and Automotive Refinishing and winners at the District level will be awarded in the standard practice. (top three per District 12 at states)
At the state competition, the contest will encompass the
skills for both Collision Repair Technology and Automotive
Refinishing. However the refinishing section will be more
in-depth and scoring rubrics will be enhanced for both the Collision Repair and Refinishing portions of the event. At the conclusion of the event, all scores will be tallied and TWO sets of winners will be announced. One for Collision Repair and one for Automotive Refinishing. Massachusetts will be entering two gold medal winners in the national competition one for Collision Repair and one for Automotive Refinishing.
Note: This is a one-year process. In 2009 SkillsUSA Massachusetts will split the events and offer both Collision Repair and Automotive Refinishing in the new format.
SkillsUSA
State Leadership and Skills Conference May 1-3, 2008
Join us for the Awards Ceremony!
Where: Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel and Trade Center, in the Trade Center building.
When: Saturday, May 3, 2008
Time: 10:00am (tentative)
Seating is limited and is on a first-come basis. ONLY a student’s parent or legal guardian can dismiss them to ride in their vehicles at the close of the Awards. Please confirm the correct time once students arrive at the conference and receive an official conference program.
State Conference Frequently Asked Questions
What should I pack?
You will need Official SkillsUSA Dress
(black dress pants or skirt, white blouse or dress
shirt, black tie for men, black shoes) or business-like attire for the
duration of the conference. The hotel does have a pool and you will
also want respectable,neat, but casual clothes for the dance Friday night.
Will I need to bring tools?
Yes. Tools and supplies lists will be distributed to
you as soon as they are forwarded from the state.
Can I bring my cell phone?
Yes, however some cell phone companies do not receive
service in the area the hotel is located.
Do I need money?
Yes and No. You may want money to buy snacks, pizza,
T-shirts, etc., but all meals and supplies are provided.
Can I go home with my parents after the awards ceremony?
Yes, but you have to “check-out” with the lead advisor
before leaving the property.
Can I go home with my boyfriend, girlfriend, cousin or
other after the awards ceremony?
No. The only person who can dismiss a student from the conference
is your own parent or legal guardian, NO EXCEPTIONS!
Can I drive my own car to the conference?
No. The state association requires all students to arrive by school transportation.
Who will be chaperoning?
There will be instructors from the different technical programs
accompanying students, as well as SkillsUSA alumni, conference
staff and others.
Can I pick my roommates at the hotel?
No. However, you may request a certain roommate by speaking with
Mrs. Cornellier prior to March 5th. We will not guarantee any room
assignments, though because the rooming situation is difficult to manage because of contest logistics.
Can I switch roommates when I get to the hotel if I don’t like who I get?
No. You’re only in the room to sleep and unconscious
people can’t annoy you too much.
Can I bring snacks with me?
Yes, but we’All also be making a “junk food run”on Thursday
and will be taking student orders.
When do I need to return my conference paperwork?
ALL PAPERWORK MUST BE TURNED IN
TO MRS. CORNELLIER IN
ROOM 3551 BY FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2008
SkillsUSA 2007-2008 Chapter Executive Council
President Ramona Rodriguez Cosmetology Senior
Treasurer Katherine Tamayo Medical Assisting Senior
Parliamentarian Winfred Kabue Medical Assisting Junior
MA State Treasurer Kassandra Bevis Culinary Arts Junior
Vice President Michael Paquette Graphic Arts Senior
Reporter Andrew Marais Computer Programming
& Web Development Sophomore
Ambassador Thomas LeClair Carpentry Senior
Chapter Co-Advisor Sharon Cornellier Language Arts