SkillsUSA national and state prof. develop test study cards

What is the SkillsUSA mission?

to empower its members to become world-class workers, leaders, and responsible American citizens; to improve the quality of our nations future skilled workforce.

What is the SkillsUSA Motto

Preparing for leadership in the world of work

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.

What does the SkillsUSA mission mean?

SkillsUSA prepares students for success in the workforce and to fulfill future skilled-workforce job openings.

What is the SkillsUSA framework?

A framework based on research from over 1000 employers that provides skills which every individual should possess for careers.

What components is the SkillsUSA framework comprised of?

Personal skills, workplace skills, and Technical skills.

How much essential elements does the SkillsUSA framework have overall?

Seventeen.

What is the purpose of the SkillsUSA framework?

To provide a common language for students to articulate what they gain from skillsUSA competition and to assess their skill development.

What is SkillsUSAs “secret sauce"?

The PoW (program of work)

What is the SkillsUSA Program of Works purpose?

To develope the “whole person” and ensure career readiness (to help one complete the framework).

What are the SkillsUSA PoW categories?

Advocacy and marketing, community engagement, financial management, leadership development, partner and alumni engagement, workplace experiences.

What does a well planned program of work provide?

intentional instruction of the frameworks essential elements.

What do the six categories and chapter committee structure provide

a simulated workplace

Promote SkillsUSA and career and technical education programs, public relations initiatives, and experiences to build social responsibility. (PoW)

Advocacy and Marketing

Participation in Advocacy and Marketing allows a career-ready student to:

Identify characteristics of effective marketing, promote your organization, advocate for self and your ideas.

Participating in SkillsUSA week or Active social media posts.

Activities that might be conducted in the Advocacy and Marketing PoW Category.

Asses community needs, identify services and employ skills to meet needs that develop long-lasting partnerships.

Community Engagement PoW category.

Access and analyze needs, create a heart of service, apply technical skills for the benefit of others.

Community Engagement PoW category participation examples.

Culinary student teacher appreciation breakfast or automotive student oil change for military families.

Community Engagement PoW category activity examples.

Develop personal financial literacy and entrepreneurship skills through relevant work experience, project management, and chapter fundraising.

Financial Management PoW category

Establish interpersonal relationships, individual and team development through chapter operations, leadership competitions, and individualized growth plans.

Leadership development PoW category

Engage former members, parents, advisory committees, administrators, faculty, and business and industry partners in SkillsUSA chapter classroom activities.

Partner and Alumni Engagement PoW category

Participate in career exploration, planning, and work-based learning opportunities including SkillsUSA championships.

Workplace Experience PoW category

Computer and Technology Literacy

==Technical== Skills grounded in Academics essential element

Job-specific skills

==Technical== Skills grounded in Academics essential element

Safety and Health

==Technical== Skills grounded in Academics essential element

Service Orientation

==Technical== Skills grounded in Academics essential element

Professional Development

==Technical== Skills grounded in Academics essential element

Integrity

Personal Skills essential element

Work Ethic

Personal Skills essential element

Professionalism

Personal Skills essential element

Responsibility

Personal Skills essential element

Adaptability/Flexibility

Personal Skills essential element

Self-Motivation

Personal Skills essential element

Communication skills

Workplace skills essential element

Decision making

Workplace skills essential element

Teamwork

Workplace skills essential element

Multicultural sensitivity and awareness

Workplace skills essential element

Planning, organizing, and management

Workplace skills essential element

Leadership

Workplace skills essential element

I believe in the dignity of work, I believe in the American way of life, I believe in education, I believe in fair play, I believe satisfaction is achieved by good work, I believe in high moral and spiritual standards.

The SkillsUSA Creed

1965

The Vocational Industrial Clubs of America Inc. (VICA) was founded by students and teachers who were serious about their professions and saw the need for more training in the areas of leadership to complement their chosen vocation. In Nashville, Tenn., 14 states were represented, as VICA chose its name, colors, motto, purposes and goals.

1966

VICA membership was 29,534 in 1,074 clubs in 26 chartered states and territories.

The first issue of the VICA magazine was produced.

1967

VICA added five more states, began holding competitive events and introduced uniform. Membership was well over 40,000.

1968

Plans were announced for the national VICA center to be located near Washington, D.C.

VICA members were received by President Lyndon B. Johnson in the Cabinet Room of the White House. The students give the President a handmade gavel and sounding block inscribed, “To Lyndon B. Johnson – America’s Great Educational President.”

1969

VICA membership hit 82,000 with new chapters, college/technical membership and VICA’s yearly themes. The first theme was “Speak Up for America.”

The organization’s Postsecondary Division (now College/Postsecondary) was approved at a constitutional convention in Memphis, Tenn. Seven “founding states” were Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, Utah and Washington.

1970

The *VICA Leadership Handbook* was published for the first time, and a student campaign to raise funds for the National Leadership Center got underway. The theme was “Skills Build America.”

1971

At the seventh annual National Leadership Conference, there were 25 competitive activities.

1976

5,000 VICA members attended the U.S. Skill Olympics in Miami Beach.

Membership reached a quarter of a million with 10,000 active chapters.

1977

Contributions from VICA alumni, friends and members to purchase the land where the National Leadership Center now sits topped $56,000.

1979

The National Leadership Center was dedicated after 15 years of planning and fundraising.

1980

VICA started the Youth Development Foundation Committee to ensure our programs were relevant to both students’ and industry’s needs, and that financing was available to support them.

1985

VICA’s 20th anniversary; membership had grown to 12,632 chapters. The U.S. Skill Olympics had gone from five competitive events to 38.

The first International Skill Olympics gold medal was awarded to the United States. Dennis Falls of Arizona brought home the Graphic Design gold medal.

1996

VICA received the Oracle Award by the International Association of Continuing Education and Training (IACET) for the new Professional Development Program (PDP).

VICA received the Vocational Instructional Materials (VIM) Award of Excellence for the PDP.

U.S. Secretary of Education Richard Riley, Secretary of Labor Robert Reich, and J.D. Hoye, executive director of the Department of Education’s School to Work Office, spoke at VICA’s Washington Leadership Training Institute’s Congressional Breakfast.

1999

VICA officially changed to SkillsUSA–VICA on July 4, 1999, at the National Leadership and Skills Conference.

Students competing in the WorldSkills Competition in Montreal placed higher than ever before.

Nationwide, chapter members began an image campaign in which they spoke to community leaders about the value of skilled employees, their training and SkillsUSA–VICA membership.

2001

Timothy W. Lawrence, a former student member, became national executive director. Formerly national director of business and industry partnerships, Lawrence had also been a classroom instructor, industry employee, state association director and member of the board of directors.

An ex-officio position was created for National Association of State Directors of Career and Technical Education Consortium.

2002

The board of directors approved shortening the name of the national organization from SkillsUSA–VICA to SkillsUSA, effective Sept. 1, 2004.

2004

On Sept. 1, the organization’s name officially changed to SkillsUSA.

2008

SkillsUSA released the first Skill Connect Assessments as part of its new Work Force Ready System. Driven by industry, the technical knowledge and skill assessments correspond to many career cluster areas of training.

2017

SkillsUSA received a Grand Award for its magazine’s digital edition from APEX (Awards for Publication Excellence).

The SkillsUSA Career Essentials suite was introduced, including *SkillsUSA Career Essentials: Foundations, SkillsUSA Career Essentials: Experiences* (replacing the Professional Development Program) and *SkillsUSA Career Essentials: Assessments* (formerly the Work Force Ready System and Skill Connect Assessments).

What do red and white represent for SkillsUSA

Individual states and chapters

What does blue represent for SkillsUSA

the common union of the states and of the chapters

What does gold represent for SkillsUSA

the individual, the most important element of the organization

SkillsUSA produces the most highly skilled workforce in the world, providing every member the opportunity for career success.

The SkillsUSA Vision

What does the shield represent in the SkillsUSA emblem?

Patriotism

What does the gear represent in the SkillsUSA emblem?

the industrial society

What does the torch represent?

knowledge

What do the orbital circles represent?

Technology

What do the hands represent?

the individual