SkillsUSA Overview
SkillsUSA is the co-curricular CareerTech Student Organization for students and instructors in trade, industrial, and technical occupations programs. SkillsUSA is recognized by state and federal departments of education as an integral part of the curriculum in public high schools, technology centers, and junior/community colleges.
SkillsUSA students are motivated to excel as they acquire job and leadership skills; to understand the democratic process through their local chapter work; to work together to improve school, workplace, and community; and to earn individual recognition for both skill and leadership achievement.
SkillsUSA was established in 1965 as a nonprofit educational association by the National Association of State Supervisors of Trade and Industrial Education. Other founding sponsors include the Association of Career and Technical Education, the U.S. Office of Education, the AFL-CIO, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. SkillsUSA has grown from 29,000 members and 26 state associations in 1965 to nearly 300,000 members in 53 state and territorial associations in 1995. In that time, more than 5 million people have had SkillsUSA training.
The Oklahoma SkillsUSA Association is an integral part of 500 trade and industrial education programs in comprehensive high schools and technology centers. In 1989, Oklahoma’s membership ranked eighth in the nation with 7,339 secondary (high school), 1,882 post-secondary (adults), and 637 professional members. Oklahoma was one of the 26 charter states to help organize SkillsUSA as a national organization in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1966. Since SkillsUSA’s conception, Oklahoma has been a leader in national honors and awards. Accomplishments include:
- Since 1965, 33 National Officers (five National Presidents) and four International Industrial Degree Recipients (SkillsUSA’s highest honor for members after high school graduation) have been Oklahomans.
- In International Youth Skill Olympics, there have been three Team Leaders during the past fourteen years from Oklahoma and eleven competitors from Oklahoma.
- Oklahoma Professional SkillsUSA members have been recognized for outstanding service with five Honorary Life Memberships, one Distinguished Service Award, one Outstanding SkillsUSA Educator Award, four Region IV SkillsUSA Advisor of the Year Awards, one SkillsUSA Advisor of the Year Award, and one State Director of the Year Award.
- The SkillsUSA Management Institutes, an innovative workshop model for instructors adopted by National SkillsUSA, were initiated in Oklahoma; we have hosted six Club Management Institutes where more than 200 instructors from places as far away as Alaska and the Virgin Islands have participated.
- SkillsUSA’s new competency-based curriculum, Professional Development Program, that received ACTE’s Award for outstanding instructional materials in 1989 was initiated by Oklahomans. Oklahoma educators were also involved in the development of the newly revised PDP.
- Oklahoma is the only state to host the National Leadership Conference and United States Skills Championships on three separate occasions.
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