State Conference Update
SkillsUSA Michigan
This newsletter contains the 2019 State Conference Update and the SkillsUSA Flash!
Conference Info Packet and Forms
The 2019 State Conference Info Packet and Forms are now available on our web site at http://miskillsusa.org/advisors/forms/.
Please be sure to download the forms you need for the State Conference, including the conference information packet and hotel registration form. Be sure to submit both the conference registration and the hotel registration. Also, be sure to review the State Contest Information and Updates below for important contest info!
IMPORTANT - There is a new conference registration system this year. You must register all participants for the State Conference at http://www.skillsusa-register.org/. Please follow the instructions posted here: http://miskillsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/conferenceregistrationprocess.pdf.
Final Registrations due March 15, 2019!
All conference registrations, hotel registrations and changes are due March 15, 2019. Please make any conference changes in the new conference registration at http://www.skillsusa-register.org/.
State Contest Info
Please be sure to download the most current state contest info for your contest at http://miskillsusa.org/state-contests/. The file contains important info regarding your contest and several contests have been updated in recent weeks.
NEW - State Contest Team Penalty
Starting in 2019 for any team state contests, there will be an automatic 10% penalty for teams competing with less than the required number of team members. This applies to any state contests with a team of 2 or more members.
2019 Official Voting Delegates Chart
The 2019 Official Voting Delegate Chart will be posted this month on our web site at http://miskillsusa.org/advisors/forms/. The official voting delegates represent your school at the Annual Delegate Business Meeting on Saturday afternoon at the State Conference and vote on state issues and for the new state officers. Each school is allowed x number of official voting delegates based on your SkillsUSA membership as of January 15, 2019.
Advisor State Conference Checksheet
An Advisor State Conference Checksheet is available on our web site at http://miskillsusa.org/advisors/forms/. This checksheet is a great tool with tips to help you keep on track and organized for the State Conference.
SkillsUSA Leadership Test
All students will be required to take the SkillsUSA Leadership Test on Friday afternoon anytime between 3:00 pm and 6:30 pm. The students with the top ten scores on the Leadership test will be recognized at the Sunday Awards Ceremony. This test is also used as a tie-breaker for competitors. A study guide for this test is available on our web site at http://miskillsusa.org/advisors/forms/.
State Conference Dress Code
The State Conference Dress Code was approved by the Advisor Council in July 2008. The Advisor Council will be on hand at each meeting to determine if a student is properly dressed before he/she will be allowed on the stage. This dress code applies to all participants (students, advisors, observers, guests, etc.).
Friday Night General Session and Saturday Delegate Meeting: School-logo attire or SkillsUSA Michigan attire is required. A SkillsUSA blazer, sweater or windbreaker is encouraged but not required. Business attire is NOT allowed.
- Women: School-logo collared shirt (any color) or white collared or collarless shirt, dress pants or skirt no shorter than 2” above the knee, skin-tone seamless hose, and close toed dress shoes OR white collared shirt, black pants or skirt no shorter than 2” above the knee, skin-tone seamless hose, and close toed dress shoes.
- Men: School-logo collared shirt or white collared shirt, dress pants, dress socks, and dress shoes OR white collared shirt, black pants, black socks, and dress shoes.
Sunday Morning Awards Ceremony:
Students and Advisors - SkillsUSA Michigan attire or appropriate National Competition clothing is required. A SkillsUSA blazer, sweater or windbreaker is encouraged but not required.Business attire and non-white school-logo shirts are NOT allowed. Please see http://www.miskillsusa.org/forms.htmlfor the National Competition Clothing list.
- Women: White collared or collarless shirt (with or without school/SkillsUSA logo), black pants or skirt no shorter than 2” above the knee, skin-tone seamless hose, and close toed dress shoes OR appropriate National competition clothing.
- Men: White collared shirt (with or without school/SkillsUSA logo), black pants, black socks, and dress shoes OR appropriate National competition clothing.
- Guests – Guests are to wear business or business casual.
Social and Free Time: Neat casual clothing is acceptable. Shoes must be worn when in public areas. Items not acceptable include hats, bathing suits (unless at the pool), and suggestive attire. Shirts must have sleeves and no bare mid drift. Skirts and shorts must be at least fingertip length.
2019 NLSC Due Dates – IMPORTANT!
For those of you who will be attending the 2019 National Leadership and Skills Conference on June 24-29, 2019 in Louisville, KY, please be prepared for the following due dates.
- April 9, 2019 – Qualifier Not Attending Notification Form due to State Office
- May 1, 2019 – SkillsUSA Michigan Registration Form due to State Office available at http://miskillsusa.org/advisors/forms/.
- May 1, 2019 – Online Conference Registration Due at www.skillsusa-register.org – All fields must be completed including home address!
- May 15, 2019 – Payment Deadline, Final Cancellations and Refund Requests due to State Office
- May 31, 2019 – Additional Trading Pins Pre-Order Form due to State Office
SkillsUSA Flash
Deadline Extended – Sign up by March 12
SkillsUSA and Klein Tools are proud to present the first annual National Signing Day to honor our aspiring skilled professionals.
Klein Tools is committed to honoring and supporting 5,000 students as they work toward a successful career in the trades. That's why on May 8, 2019, we plan to help approximately 500 schools throughout the country host National Signing Day events.
This day will celebrate and publicly acknowledge high school seniors who are committing to careers in the building and construction trades. Whether they are starting an apprenticeship, entering more focused technical education or starting jobs in the field, we want to reinforce support for their decisions to help close the skills gap and promote positivity for the trades.
To do so, we need to hear from you.
We are looking for Class of 2019 students who are committing to careers or continuing education in:
- Residential Wiring
- Building Trades and Renovations
- HVAC
- Plumbing
Each school will receive a kit from Klein Tools with items for the participating students, as well as instructions and materials for the event itself. Five select schools will receive a special feature on Klein Tools' national media platforms on the day of the event.
If you have graduating high school seniors who fit these criteria, please use the link below to start the conversation with the National Signing Day team.
CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR INFORMATION
The mikeroweWORKS Foundation Travel Scholarship
The mikeroweWORKS Foundation, in partnership with SkillsUSA, is proud to offer a $1,000 scholarship opportunity for SkillsUSA members who have competed and placed first in their state association competition.
The scholarship provides support for SkillsUSA state contest winners who have insufficient personal, chapter, school or community resources to participate at the 2019 SkillsUSA Championships in Louisville, Ky. Scholarships will be awarded, based on need, to offset the costs of travel and participation in the National SkillsUSA Championships.
The award is based on a student-written, one-page narrative describing the student’s financial need for the scholarship including the lack of school or community resources. Preference will be given to applicants from program areas of manufacturing and industrial applications, construction, technical computer applications, firefighting, electronics and transportation.
The student may be nominated with a letter of recommendation written by their advisor or state director. Applications must be submitted via the online form to the national office of SkillsUSA for review and determination by midnight ET May 15. Recipients will be informed on June 1.
Requirements:
To apply for the mikeroweWORKS Foundation Travel Scholarship, applicants:
- Must be a gold medal winner at their 2019 state competition, advancing to national competition
- Have never attended the National Leadership and Skills Conference prior to this year
- Be a SkillsUSA member in good standing
- Must reasonably demonstrate financial need for scholarship.
- Must submit application and attachments via online submission no later than May 15, 2019, at midnight, ET.
- Preference will be given to applicants from program areas of manufacturing and industrial applications, construction, technical computer applications, firefighting, electronics and transportation.
Full details and application can be found at this link: www.skillsusa.org/membership-resources/scholarships-financial-aid/the-mikeroweworks-foundation-travel-scholarship/
Advance CTE Kicks Off Double the Investment Campaign
Advance CTE has a goal to collect 10,000 signatures from employers by April. This is how you can help achieve that goal:
Step 1: Make Targeted Outreach to Employers to Sign On!
- The first step is asking employers with whom you currently partner to sign on to support doubling the investment in CTE (if you work for a company or organization that can sign on, that’s a great place to start!).
- They need sign-ons from small businesses to large corporations in every state and in every industry. Every employer that signs on provides one more proof point to Congress that the time is now to increase the federal investment in CTE!
- This is a year-long campaign, but the goal is 10,000 signatures by April!
Step 2: Spread the Word
- Let as many people as possible know about the campaign – and invite them to ask employers to sign on to support doubling the investment in CTE. The signatures collected will be critical to building visibility and support for CTE with members of Congress.
- Visit the share page to find sample Tweets, graphics, email blurbs, and more to help you communicate about the campaign.
- Share the campaign with CTE champions, including statewide advisory councils, state CTE administrators, Career Technical Student Organizations, deans of workforce education, community college presidents and others. CTE supporters are well-positioned to ask their employer partners to sign on to support doubling the investment.
Step 3: Get Involved in the Campaign
- Share stories of what successful CTE looks like in your state. Email ISupportCTE@careertech.org to learn how.
- Let Advance CTE know why you think it’s important to double the federal investment in CTE. Submit a short blog or testimonial to ISupportCTE@careertech.org
- Follow them on Twitter (@CTEWorks) and engage. They will be promoting the campaign using #ISupportCTE and encourage you to do the same.
Hypertherm Welding Program Grant
Hypertherm will award 12 schools (up from 10 last year) in the United States and Canada with new metal fabrication equipment. Grants will be awarded based on the school’s commitment to metal fabrication education, program need, number of students who complete the program each year, instructor plans for system use, and a student testimonial. Equipment will include the following:
- A Powermax45 XP air plasma cutting and gouging system, a $2,340 value.
- Hypertherm’s AWS SENSE approved “Plasma Cutting Technology: Theory and Practice” curriculum kit, a $505 value.
- An initial visit by a Hypertherm District Manager to set up and train on the equipment and curriculum.
Applications will be reviewed by a team of Hypertherm marketing, sales and training associates. Submissions are due by 11:59 p.m. on April 1 and awards will be announced on or before May 1. For more information or to apply, go to: www.hypertherm.com/grant.
SkillsUSA Scholarship Opportunities Now Open for Applications
Applications for several scholarships are now open to benefit SkillsUSA students in pursuit of higher education or certification in their chosen field. Help spread the word so more SkillsUSA students can take full advantage of these opportunities:
- SkillsUSA, in conjunction with the National Technical Honor Society, will award four $1,000 scholarships to SkillsUSA members who are also members of NTHS. Awards will be made directly to an accredited educational institution. Recipients may only win one NTHS/SkillsUSA scholarship per lifetime. Deadline for applications is April 1. For more information and to apply: skillsusa.org/membership-resources/scholarships-financial-aid/national-technical-honor-society/
- Sharon Melton Myers Memorial Scholarship: https://skillsusa.wufoo.com/forms/sharon-melton-myers-memorial-scholarship/. Deadline is April 15.
- Fine Homebuilding #KeepCraftAlive Scholarship: https://skillsusa.wufoo.com/forms/keepcraftalive-scholarship/. Deadline is May 1.
For additional scholarship information, continually check the website at: www.skillsusa.org/membership-resources/scholarships-financial-aid/.
State Leadership and Skills Conference
Friday, Apr 5, 2019, 12:00 PM
Grand Rapids, MI, USA
National Leadership and Skills Conference
Monday, Jun 24, 2019, 09:00 AM
Louisville, KY, United States
About Us
Email: info@miskillsusa.org
Website: www.miskillsusa.org
Location: Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI, United States
Phone: 734-487-3888
Facebook: www.facebook.com/miskillsusa
Twitter: @miskillsusa
State Contest Information and Updates
State contest information will be posted for all contests by March 6, 2019. Please see the web site at http://miskillsusa.org/compete/statecontests/ for more information. There are several important contest updates to state contests this year.
Carpentry and TeamWorks – All contestants MUST be OSHA certified! All contestants must have received instructions and have satisfactorily passed an examination on the safe use of portable electric power tools (including cordless) and all hand tools. All contestants are required to have an OSHA Certification prior to competition. To take the OSHA Certification test, go to: www.careersafeonline.com/.
Team Banquet – The state contest will be at DeVos Place in the Catering Kitchen and Ballrooms C and D on Friday, April 5, 2019.
Save the State Contest Date!
Below is the list of state contests that are NOT on April 5-7, 2019 in Grand Rapids.
- March 2018 - HS and CPS Digital Cinema Production, online
- March 8, 2019 - HS and CPS Graphic Communications, Saline High School - Saline
- March 15-16, 2019 - HS and CPS Aviation Maintenance, WMU - Battle Creek
- March 22, 2019 - CPS Culinary Arts, Commercial Baking and Restaurant Service, Culinary Institute of Michigan - Port Huron
- March 29, 2019 - CPS Welding, WCC - Ann Arbor
- March 29, 2019 - HS and CPS Welding Fabrication, WCC - Ann Arbor