SkillsUSA

championsSUMMER 2015

golden moments how we’ve grown over five decades faces of the future welding service to learning how students shaped the organization from the start

Celebrating A Big Birthday Hand-in-Hand for our future.

We are proud to support...

The future of tomorrow’s skilled workforce is in our hands. It’s only natural that America’s #1 brand of heavy duty hand cleaner* join with the #1 champion for the next generation of skilled workers and leaders in America. Now let’s go to work!

Visit us at SkillsUSA TECHSPO June 23-25, 2015.

*Results based on May/June 2014 survey, administered by a third party where GOJO was not identified as sponsor of the research. Survey of 450 workers and key decision makers in U.S. and Canada in industries where tough soils are encountered. Survey respondents mentioned GOJO more than any other hand cleaner brand in unaided awareness. www.GOJO.com © 2015 GOJO Industries, Inc. All rights reserved.

SkillsUSA champions

SkillsUSA’s Official Magazine BOarD Of DirectOrS 14001 SkillsUSA Way, Leesburg, VA 20176-5494 Brent Kindred (Wisconsin) 703-777-8810 Michael de Castro (Air Products) www.skillsusa.org Chris Arvin (Caterpillar University) James King () Magazine Staff/Office Of cOMMunicatiOnS Dave Milliken (Utah) Tom Hall, Director Peggy Torrens (Kansas) Ann Schreiber, Associate Director, Communications Charles Wallace (Maryland) Craig Moore, Manager, Web/Technology Kathleen Cullen (National Association of State Direc- Tom Kercheval, Manager, Audiovisual Technology/ tors of Career and Technical Education Consortium) Communications Alex Gromada (Association for Career and Technical Jane Short, Program Manager Education) Jennifer Polz (SkillsUSA State Directors Association) Office Of the executive DirectOr Jennifer Worth (American Association of Community Tim Lawrence, Executive Director Colleges) Sandra Moore, Administrative Assistant Troy Dally (Lowe’s Companies Inc.) Laurie Hackett (Air Products) aDMiniStratiOn anD finance Russ Hoffbauer (State Farm Insurance Companies) Kim Graham, Director Alicia Smales (Snap-on Inc.) SkillsUSA champions online Keith Ashby, Manager, Educational Resources/ Chris Tesmer (Newell Rubbermaid) National Center Cameron Ferguson (Emeritus/Caterpillar Inc.) Visit the SkillsUSA Champions “e-zine” version Melissa Wilson, Manager, Human Resources at www.skillsusa.org/champions/ to flip through Roxanne Hodge, Customer Service Representative natiOnal StuDent OfficerS/aDviSOrS articles, view videos and extra photos and get HigH ScHool updates. You’ll find archives of past issues, adver- BuSineSS PartnerShiPS anD DevelOPMent Ahmad Shawwal/Timothy McLeod () tiser links, lesson plans for new issues, and more. Kelly Persons, Director Dalton Crump/Elizabeth Crump () Dave Worden, Program Director, SkillsUSA Stephanie Wilburn/Todd Anderson () See even more champions on our frequently Championships Robert Gomez/Joe Valdez () updated website, www.skillsusa.org, as well as: Christen Battaglia, Corporate Development Officer Antonio Vargas/Laura Velez (Connecticut) Jim Kregiel, Program Manager, SkillsUSA Taylor Mackie/Sheila Fox (Massachusetts) Championships Benjamin Miller/Lauren-Anne Sledzinski (Virginia) Leslie Lawrence, Corporate Development Officer Matthew Carder/Deborah Luellen () Brittney Colburn, Development Coordinator Anastasia Hawkins/Jordan Bedhart (Texas) Summer Diegel/Eric Croft (Montana) Volume 49, No. 4 eDucatiOn, training anD aSSeSSMentS SkillsUSA Champions (ISSN 1040-4538) is published four Marsha Daves, Director college/PoStSecondary times per school year — Fall (October/November), Winter Heidi Walsh, Program Director, Programs and Grant Brooke Johnson/James Carter (North Carolina) (December/January), Spring (February/March) and Summer Management Quinel Nabors/Joanne Edley (Tennessee) (April/ May) — by SkillsUSA Inc. at 14001 SkillsUSA Way, Niki Clausen, Associate Director, Training Darlenne Helena/Thomas Thoss (Florida) Leesburg, VA 20176. Periodicals postage paid at Leesburg, VA, Associate Director, Conference (Oklahoma) and at additional mailing offices. Copyright 2015 by SkillsUSA. Shelly Coates, Shane Morrison/Ryland Stonehocker All rights reserved. Nonmember subscriptions: $15 per year Management Services Alex Bruin/Michelle Martinez (Arizona) (SkillsUSA members, $1.30 paid with dues or affiliation fees). Stephanie Bland, Program Specialist Ashley Ridgeway, Program Specialist, Conference POSTMASTER: Send address corrections to SkillsUSA Champions, Management Services Attn.: Judy Garrison, 14001 SkillsUSA Way, Leesburg, VA 20176.

The names SkillsUSA, SkillsUSA Championships and SkillsUSA Marketing, MeMBerShiP anD SaleS Kelly Horton, Director Champions; the SkillsUSA: Champions at Work slogan; and the Senior Manager, Membership Services SkillsUSA logo, emblem and slogan art are all registered trade- Judy Garrison, marks of SkillsUSA Inc. All rights are reserved, and permission Susan Trent, Program Manager, Member Services must be granted by the national headquarters of SkillsUSA Patty Duncan, Program Manager, Work Force Ready prior to any use. System and Member Services Gayle Silvey, Membership Liaison In keeping with a tradition of respect for the individuality of our members and our role in workforce development, SkillsUSA strives to ensure inclusive participation in all of our kanSaS city Office • 816-691-3827 Byekwaso Gilbert, Program Manager, Alumni programs, partnerships and employment opportunities.

aDvertiSing rePreSentativeS fOr SkillSuSa chaMPiOnS Constellation Enterprises Inc. 53 Main St./P.O. Box 508, Cherry Valley, NY 13320 607-264-9069

4 SkillsUSA Champions Summer 2015 asktim

Serving Strong at 50 Executive Director Tim Lawrence has known SkillsUSA as a student member, instructor, industry partner and state director. Got a question? He can help. & What is the key to SkillsUSA’sQ Through service,A you’ll experience Q:half-century of success? some life-changing moments, not just for Tim: No organization survives for 50 others but also for yourself. You’ll enhance years without a strong mission and teams personal communication and organiza- of dedicated people to carry it out. This tional skills to help you advance in your anniversary issue of our magazine offers career and further develop as a leader. strong examples of those people, past To mark our 50 years of serving educa- and present. Covering our organization’s tion, SkillsUSA began a 50K Challenge biggest accomplishments, it makes a great (www.skillsusaservice.org) to log 50,000 keepsake to share with future members. hours of service by the end of June. This is The year of our founding, 1965, was a a powerful statement about who we are as pivotal time for our nation. Civil rights an organization and what matters most. were at the forefront, and so was the Helping others can be as simple as space program. The Vietnam War was listening to a child learning to read — or in progress. These were challenging but as complex as rebuilding the home of a exciting times, and 2015 is no different. senior citizen. It can be a one-time event Technology is rapidly changing the way or ongoing effort. You can serve with your our “plugged in” generation works, but chapter or family, community group or people are still fighting injustice. There church. If you need help finding a place to are still wars. We are still trying to serve, try national websites such as Volun- conquer space. Yet if you follow the news, teerMatch.org or CreatetheGood.org. there are also many stories of human Whether your SkillsUSA chapter kindness and doing the right thing. has five members or 500, I encourage Or, like Ryan Eubank, you can be the you to reach out and give. We can each story. His welding program, featured in have an impact on the lives of others. this issue, is inspiring. These students’ Let’s continue to be champions of the reputation is so strong that nearly 20 SkillsUSA mission and make the next 50 organizations are hoping to be selected years even better than the first.• for their next service project. Eubank can train $100,000 welders, but he also wants Got questions about SkillsUSA or other topics? to train responsible citizens. By leading Email [email protected] or send a letter to complex projects, they learn problem the address on the facing page. Put “Ask Tim” solving and time management. in the subject line or mail address.

Summer 2015 SkillsUSA Champions 5 what’snew

National Conference Just Hanging Out, Nationwide

his year’s national officer team has been embracing social T networking all year to help our members get to know them better, and Set to Ignite they’ve just participated in a SkillsUSA first: a live Google hangout. Google Hangouts is a videoconfer- encing service allowing one-on-one or A Bold New Era group video chats and presentations. t last year’s National Leadership and continuing gargantuanization (if that’s not Topics discussed in the session with the Skills Conference, SkillsUSA lit the a word, it should be) of our biggest event. officers included planning community Acandles on its imaginary 50th birthday This year’s SkillsUSA Championships, service projects, conveying the impor- cake, and we’ve been celebrating all year for example, will be the largest ever, with tance of career and technical education, long. At the 2015 NLSC, it’ll finally be more than 6,000 competitors in 100 skill speaking to legislators and more. time to blow those candles out and begin and leadership events. The opening and The hangout is no longer “live” (since looking ahead to the next 50 years. awards ceremonies, the annual commu- it, you know, already happened), but you It’s fitting, then, that this year’s confer- nity service event, SkillsUSA TECHSPO, can watch the archived version here: ence, held June 22-26, will be in a new SkillsUSA University ... it’s all shaping up www.tinyurl.com/skillsusahangout. • location: Louisville, Ky. The move to be the start of a great next chapter in was made in part to accommodate the SkillsUSA’s ever-evolving legacy. •

SkillsUSA’s 2015 conference will honor the most national gold medalists in its history. Follow all the conference action at: www.tinyurl.com/ SkillsUSA-NLSC. Photo: Lloyd Wolf

6 SkillsUSA Champions Summer 2015 what’snew

TWO CHANCES TO FULLY REALIZE YOUR POTENTIAL Help SkillsUSA’s Bottom Line Online Do you love SkillsUSA? Do you love shopping f you’re a SkillsUSA state officer, you’re no doubt already serious online at places like Amazon.com? Do you love Iabout developing your leadership answering three successive questions in a row? skills. This summer, you’ll have a great opportunity to “POWERR” up those If you at least answered in the affirmative to skills at the Leverage conference, held the first two, we have some good news to share. June 20-22 in Louisville, Ky. Leverage leads right into SkillsUSA’s SkillsUSA is now part of the AmazonSmile pro- national conference, and it’s an gram. Every time you shop at Amazon through intensive two-and-a-half-day leader- ship experience open to high-school the special link below, 0.5 percent of your pur- and college/postsecondary state chase price will be donated to the SkillsUSA officers. It focuses on developing individual leaders, building teams and Foundation. SkillsUSA only receives the donation communicating effectively through when you use this link, so bookmark it, share it, the POWERR formula (Pre-work, Outlook, Wisdom, Engagement, and use it for all your Amazon purchases: Review and Reflection), which helps http://smile.amazon.com/ch/23-7122568. • give speeches impact. For more information, visit: www. tinyurl.com/SkillsUSALeverage.

A Leadership “TAG” Team If you’re a college/postsecondary ach year, hundreds of SkillsUSA member, you don’t have to be a state Student designs students submit their designs for officer to take part in another great theE official national conference pin and leadership training event during the grab conference T-shirt. Those designs are judged by national conference. It’s called TAG SkillsUSA staff and E Group, SkillsUSA’s (Train-Act-Grow) Tuesday, and it spotlight official merchandise provider. focuses on individual skills that can This year’s winning pin design (pictured build your strengths and kick-start top left) is by Antwan Briscoe from Metro your career. Technology Centers South Bryant TAG Tuesday is free, and it happens Campus in Oklahoma City. His advisor on June 23. (Extra points if you can is Roxanne Shively. The winning T-shirt guess the day of the week.) Attend- design (bottom left) comes from Helen ees will take strength assessments, Smith of Sandy Creek High School in participate in practice interviews with Tyrone, Ga. Her advisor is Jeff Dykes. business leaders and more. Both students receive a travel stipend to To register, you’ll need to contact the national conference from E Group. A your SkillsUSA state director. You can free pin will be given to all attendees, and find that contact info at:www.skillsusa. shirts will be available for purchase at the org/about/state-directors/. • conference SkillsUSA Store. •

Summer 2015 SkillsUSA Champions 7 NLSC or Bust! You’ve worked hard all year and it’s almost time for the big event! NLSC is just a few months away. Now is the perfect time to stock up on all of the essential uniform pieces, great products to keep you prepared, and awesome 50th-anniversary gear.

We’ve also been busy stocking the SkillsUSA Conference Store with lots of fun and unique items. Make sure to stop by and celebrate with us in Louisville. Happy Anniversary, SkillsUSA!

SkillsUSA nlsc 20 15

louisville

SkillsUSA nlsc 20 15

louisville Visit: www.skillsusastore.com. 50 YEARS of CHAMPIONS at WORK

TM 50 YEARS ago, 200 students, Now, SkillsUSA changes lives every day. alumni — has made SkillsUSA the diverse teachers and administrators held a confer- Our students discover career interests, and far-reaching organization it is today. ence at a hotel in Nashville, Tenn. In develop relevant skills and appreciate SkillsUSA continues to reach toward founding the Vocational Industrial Clubs their own self-worth. From the very start, the founders’ vision, whether it’s fulfilling of America (VICA), their goal was to students took a leadership role. Their work the 1965 motto of “Preparing for Leader- establish a nationwide organization to — and the continuous dedication of their ship in the World of Work” or helping to represent trade and industrial education instructors, administrators, state asso- develop today’s “Champions at Work.” and to serve students’ needs. ciation directors, industry partners and Bottom line: We help students succeed.

In 1972, the organiza- In 1965, the constitu- In 1967, the organi- In 1969, the Vocational tion conducted its tion establishing the zation’s first Initiative and Club national competition In 1975, nine members Vocational Industrial national competi- Achievement Program under a new name, competed for the In 1981, the United Clubs of America was tive events were was released, becom- the United States Skill United States at the States hosted the adopted at the Trade held at its third ing the basis for the Olympics, with 25 com- International Youth International Youth and Industrial Youth conference, in Professional Develop- petitions. Membership Skill Olympics in Skill Olympics for the Conference, May 6-8. Columbus, Ohio. ment Program. was up to 125,000. Madrid, Spain. first time, in .

In early 1966, the In 1969, the organiza- In 1970, the VICA In 1973, the International In 1979, the National Leader- first issue of VICA tion’s postsecondary Leadership Hand- Youth Skill Olympics ship Center was formally dedi- magazine was division (now college/ book was first committee approved cated after almost 15 years of published, and the postsecondary) was published. A student participation by the planning and fundraising. VICA emblem was approved at a consti- campaign to raise United States, which displayed for the tutional convention in funds for a national designated VICA as the first time. We also Memphis, Tenn. center got underway. nation’s representative began national to the competition. competitive events.

NATIONWIDE NETWORK EMPLOYABILITY Our students and instructors share a bond AND LEADER- BIG with employers. We’ve grown from 26 state SHIP TRAINING and territorial associations to 54. Annual Award-winning cur- membership, totaled over 50 years, exceeds ricula such as the Pro- THINGS 11.9 million. More than fessional Development Program support 600 businesses, trade SkillsUSA’s Program of Work. Our training, MADE POSSIBLE associations and unions conducted in more than 17,500 classroom 5BY 50 YEARS OF are national partners, with sections, provides applied instruction — SkillSUSA thousands more at the 1 and opportunities for CTE students to lead state and local levels. as officers and serve as chapter members.

10 SkillsUSA Champions Summer 2015 2 Members National Cash 2013-2014: Contests Donations 351,833

2014: 1965-1966: 98 contests, 2014: 29,062 6,055 competitors $3,632,527

1967: $500

1967: 5 contests, 54 competitors

In 2008, SkillsUSA released the first Skill Connect In 1985, the first international In 2002, Assessments as part of its new Work Force Ready gold medal for the United SkillsUSA launched System. Driven by industry, the technical knowl- States was earned by Arizona’s In 1996, VICA launched SkillsUSA Champions edge and skill assessments correspond to many Dennis Falls, in Osaka, Japan. its website. magazine. career cluster areas of training.

In 1983, President In 1988, the first edition In 1999, a new name, In 2004, the organiza- In 2014, the first spoke at the National Leadership of the Professional SkillsUSA–VICA, took tion’s name officially official SkillsUSA Conference in Louisville, Ky. Development Program effect (after the intro- changed to SkillsUSA. Middle School Consti- was released nation- duction of “SkillsUSA tution was adopted, wide. Championships” in ’95). and the first chapter charter of its kind was presented to Riverside Middle School in “This country was built with Watertown, Wis. the sweat and determination of hardworking men and women who, like many of you, love to work with their hands as well as their minds.” President Ronald Reagan

CIVICALLY ENGAGED SKILLED REPRESENTING CTE Our chapters conduct thousands of com- WORKFORCE From local school boards to munity service activities every year, using We address skilled- governors and statehouses, all their occupational and leadership skills worker shortages the way to Washington, D.C., to benefit neighbors and the nation. CTE 4through the SkillsUSA SkillsUSA sends a long line of students gain public respect Championships and red blazers to talk with poli- and understanding as a industry-driven Skill Connect Assessments. cymakers, legislators and the result. Importantly, they also SkillsUSA serves 130 occupational titles that news media about the purpose experience the exhilaration of represent one-quarter of the jobs offered by of career education and how helping others as they become our economy. Our work is very much about important it is to industry. Our Champions at Work.3 America’s future. students are the “face” of CTE. 5 • Summer 2015 SkillsUSA Champions 11 n 1965, vocational education students disappointment and anger about the shake their hand, be articulate and express had a reputation of being “the castoffs.” image society had placed on them. pride in your craft and your country. That IMy own guidance counselor said at the I soon had an opportunity to go to a took leadership training. end of junior high school, “Well, since meeting and change that negative image. We did create our red blazer, and we did you’re from the projects, you’d better go There was an assistant principal who had establish a motto, “Preparing for Leader- to Kirkman Technical High School and to pay, out of his own pocket, to take two ship in the World of Work.” But there learn a trade, because you probably won’t delegates to that meeting. When we got were a lot of little breakout sessions. You go to college.” That stung! As I began to to Nashville, Tenn., with all those states could walk around the Andrew Jackson integrate into that environment, I found that were there, we thought it was a big Hotel and see five or six students talking. that Kirkman’s students had the same meeting — nearly 200 people. The adult leaders would be standing at a distance but within earshot — again, guiding, listening, answering questions. A charter member reports I remember leaders from my own state of Tennessee like David Jarrett, and Jesse Carrell from Texas, Mark Davis from ‘We all knew that we had to change , Chuck Easley from and Larry Johnson from North Carolina. the image of vocational education’ The students were asking, “How are we going to do this?” “How are we going to get our teachers to buy into this ‘club’?” That’s where we heard phrases like, “This becomes a teaching tool.” So, when we went back home, we would be able to organize a class for the instructor, open it in an orderly way, talk about being involved in the community, and talk about how to advance in our chosen profession. Then the instructor would get down to technical teaching. That’s how it started out. We felt very confident that we were doing the right thing, but would it last?

The start of a movement At that opening meeting, there was some discussion about the Future Craftsmen As a 16-year-old, Garnett B. We did have our little state signs, and we of America, an organization back in the did have our own state colors. As the T&I 1920s that lasted maybe three years. But “Bill” Prince witnessed the folks from Tennessee, we had burgundy the FCA didn’t walk that fine line between May 8, 1965, founding of blazers and gray slacks. Texas had its burnt organized labor and education, so we were orange, and North Carolina had its blue. very conscious of making that partnership the SkillsUSA organization. But all of us had the same thought: We all work early on. It had to include business, knew that we had to change the image of industry, labor and education. The printing student vocational education. Walking around, I remember specifi- went on to a successful The single word that was used the most cally Chuck Easley saying, “Real leaders, during those three days in 1965 was “lead- which you are, are ordinary people with career in public service ership.” The students wanted it to be our extraordinary determination.” Indeed, we and corporate government focus, and the educators who were there had to know what we wanted, be prepared knew they had to provide it. They had to to work for it, and hope we could do relations, from the motivate us but not intrude on our own something early on that would start the mission. They were careful to stand at the movement — which we now know has White House to Parke- back of the room, or just outside the circle, benefited more than 11 million students. Davis Pharmaceuticals. and offer advice and counsel. We hoped all the students in our orga- It didn’t matter whether your trade area nization would have the basic leadership Here, Prince provides an was construction or health occupations or skills to make them comfortable and account of that very first whatever. We all knew what we wanted: proud to be a champion printer, or brick- employability skills. Part of employability layer, or diesel mechanic or cosmetolo- conference 50 years ago. skills was the ability to stand erect with gist. And fortunately, over the years, the good posture, look people in the eye, numbers bear that out. •

12 SkillsUSA Champions Summer 2015 Seeking to build a Welding future for his family, a young welder helps his students build futures for themselves — and benefits even more LivesTo Serving Others in the community By Tom Kercheval

very day, Ryan Eubank wears a T-shirt that says “Free Hugs,” Eand after every class, his students demand he make good on the offer. It’s hardly a stereotypical scenario for the hard metal, spark-ridden environment of a welding classroom. But Eubank, an instructor at Ohio’s Willoughby-Eastlake Career Academy, has never followed a “by-the-book” approach. In fact, his unique, thriving program — based almost entirely on community service — has written an inspiring “book” all its own. Eubank began his career at age 18 on an assembly line at Lincoln Electric. A few years later, he’d become a husband, and soon after that, a father. To secure a future for his young family, Eubank took advan- Photo: Lloyd Wolf tage of a free welding program Lincoln Hugs all around: Eubank (in was offering. He excelled — so much so gray) and some of his students at ON THE WEB that, shortly after graduating from the SkillsUSA’s national conference, h A recent service project planned and where they accepted President’s carried out by Eubank’s students program, he was asked to help teach it. Volunteer Service Awards involved the creation of vegetable Soon, Eubank’s potent welding skills gardens for a local city mission. For were being rivaled by his innate abilities video of the project in action, visit: www.tinyurl.com/weldingservice as an instructor. “Next thing you know, I’m doing workshops, traveling, doing h “The Gang for Good” is a peer-to-peer seminars, teaching people all over the mentoring group that sprang from world,” he says. “I had a great job.” Eubank’s program. Learn more at: www.thegangforgood.webs.com In 2005, Eubank was asked to teach welding to high-school students at a career h Take SkillsUSA’s 50K Challenge for center. Assured that he could still work service in honor of its 50th anniversary: for Lincoln during the summer, Eubank www.skillsusaservice.org embraced the new challenge.

Summer 2015 SkillsUSA Champions 13 “As soon as I got in there, I saw the need trade areas would be involved,” Eubank At the start of each year, Eubank and for educators and the need for teaching recalls, his excitement still noticeable. his students choose a service project. students the right way,” he says. “It was an Unfortunately, well-intentioned ques- As a SkillsUSA advisor who focuses on amazing thing to see the transformation I tions about the program kept it grounded. competitive and employability skills could make in the lives of young people.” “It was a big letdown,” Eubank admits. He training, Eubank prepares his students to The program saw immediate success. considered returning to Lincoln Electric run everything. “I teach them to conduct “My first year, I had nine kids making full time, but then Willoughby-Eastlake meetings, ask for donations, set timelines, more than $100,000 a year right out of called to offer its own teaching position. and coordinate a large project,” he says. school,” he notes proudly. But Eubank “I told them about my vision of basing Their most recent project was building wanted more than monetary success for everything we do on community service. a small replica of the train from the film his students; he wanted to help them grow They said, ‘If that’s what it takes, do it.’ ” “The Polar Express” for local children into responsible adults, too. His vision for to enjoy. They’ve also created sustain- that took shape after seeing the wreckage A vision now in focus able vegetable gardens that feed hundreds left behind by Hurricane Katrina. As Eubank says today, “Everyone’s got of homeless people, restored priceless “My kids and I decided to build a a football team. What we want to create historic artifacts, renovated a disaster canteen vehicle to help with the relief here is a community service team.” He’s relief vehicle for the Salvation Army, built efforts,” he explains. It was to be the first been fielding such teams at Willoughby- “Philip the Fire Truck” to teach fire safety of many service projects where real-world Eastlake since 2009, and what was once a to children, and more. The program’s so applications would reinforce classroom vision is now a proven educational model successful that nearly 20 organizations are learning. “I’d organized it so multiple of success. waiting to be chosen for the next project.

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52938-4_JD_Pub_half_pg.indd 1 7/5/12 8:16 PM “He’s definitely not the typical edu- Photo: Lloyd Wolf cator. He teaches us more about life than about the welding sometimes.” — SkillsUSA member Kyle Lemmo, referring to advisor Ryan Eubank then asked him to tell me what was going on. When he was done, he said, ‘Hey, Mr. What’s most important to Eubank, nicate with industry. They develop a E, can I have another one of those? I’ve though, are the changes he’s seen in his portfolio, and anyone who looks at it is never been hugged by a real dad before.’” students through the sense of self-worth blown away by the real-world experience.” Thus began a classroom tradition. “My they’ve developed in the program. “I’ve When student Kyle Lemmo took part in kids line up single file every day, and they dealt with kids with drug and alcohol a project benefiting the same hospital that don’t leave without that hug.” problems,” he notes, “and they’ve turned helped save his life as a baby, “It was one of It’s a fitting metaphor for the way he’s their lives around completely. I have the greatest feelings in the world,” he says. helped his students learn to embrace their parents say, ‘What have you done to my “It makes you grow up and realize you can community and their own potential. son, my daughter?’ ” affect a lot of people.” “There’s a prince in Saudi Arabia who Some of these young people have been “Mr. Eubank says it’s not just a welding knows about us,” this caring instructor so inspired by the experience that, with class, it’s the life class,” Lemmo points counts off, “a gentleman in Australia who Eubank’s help, they formed a peer-to-peer out. “It’s really amazing how much hires some of my students, all my Lincoln mentoring group called “The Gang for we’ve grown from the welding class and contacts, people in South America … Good.” The “gang” is now comprised of SkillsUSA in general.” “We are a global commodity, and it’s more than 300 past and present students. But back to those hugs. “It all started pretty awesome to see what a bunch of The career benefits are big, too. “These with a young man in our class who was kids have ultimately done.” service projects give students a leg up,” having a lot of trouble,” Eubank says. “I A bunch of kids … and a guy in a “Free Eubank says. “They learn how to commu- asked him to stand up, gave him a hug, Hugs” T-shirt. •

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Summer 2015 SkillsUSA Champions 15

ithout $1,000 scholarships from the mikeroweWORKS WFoundation, 50 of SkillsUSA’s top students might not be able to travel to the national championships. It’s part of a campaign — TV host, writer, narrator, producer, actor and spokes- man — launched to reinvigorate the skilled trades. He’s since written about the widening skills gap. “It’s awesome,” says scholarship recipi- ent Jonathan Ponce. “He’s being a great philanthropist and a great person for actually believing, and I truly believe he cares about the people that he’s sent [to the championships] and this organization.”

Paying it forward The memory of a scary break-in at his home inspired Ponce’s personal mission to help others feel safe. Combine that with his studies in information technology, and a criminal justice career unfolds. The Tennessee student hopes for a job with the Federal Bureau of Investigation or in fighting cybercrime. A generous grant With no criminal justice program at allows 50 students Unicoi County High School in Erwin, Ponce signed up for information technol- each year to compete ogy with instructor Jonathan Miller, who at the SkillsUSA involved him in SkillsUSA’s Telecommu- nications Cabling contest. To get exposure Championships. to criminal justice, Ponce rode with local Meet five who are officers on patrol. Traveling to the remote parts of the county, the student was told it paying it back with would be boring, and he wasn’t allowed to Their service to others participate in calls. He was undeterred. GRATITUDE SHINES

ON THE WEB h Learn more about the Brightly mikeroweWORKS Foundation at: www. profoundlydisconnected.com/ By Ann P. Schreiber h Mike Rowe’s TV show, “Somebody’s Gotta Do It,” airs on CNN Thursdays at 9 p.m. Find the episode featuring SkillsUSA, and learn more at: www.cnn. com/shows/mike-rowe

h Rowe’s career advice for millennials: Clockwise from left: Jonathan http://tinyurl.com/opoy9ob Ponce, Jessica Beske, Billie Haas and Tori Lester.

Photos: (Ponce) Lloyd Wolf; (Haas) Janet Cantore-Watson; others provided by Beske and Lester Summer 2015 SkillsUSA Champions 17 Selfless service drives a future cop

The experience convinced him this work ccording to his mother, Mike would be part of his career. Before Ponce Boyes’ first words were “whoo, moves on with it, he’ll make sure his Awhoo, whoo,” like a police siren. mother, who speaks only Spanish, is taken When he was 3, he took her Post-it care of. The youngest of five children, he notes and “ticketed” her car. By the traveled to the United States from Mexico time he was 15, Boyes was a cadet when he was 3, and at age 16 started with the Clackamas County (Ore.) working to help pay household bills. sheriff’s office. Another scholarship recipient, Jessica Making it to nationals, where he Beske, was in seventh grade when her earned a gold medal in SkillsUSA’s critically ill father passed away. Her Criminal Justice competition, was a family’s financial setbacks got worse when top goal — but it would never have her mother was laid off. A home down- happened without the mikerowe- sized to a trailer, a transfer to Works Foundation. His father’s cater- another school, and switching ing business had slowed to a near stop. His mother’s teaching salary barely to public transportation didn’t covered the necessities. Boyes says as the checkbook got tighter, so did the faze the cosmetology student. family. The financial shortfall brought them closer together. “Keeping up with the house This criminal justice student at Sabin-Schellenberg Center in Milwaukie, payments was a challenge for Ore., puts in nearly 90 volunteer hours a month with the sheriff’s office cadets. my mom,” Beske says. “We He’s also serving as SkillsUSA Oregon’s vice president of operations. have been constantly trying to A selfless, humble young man, he’s earned the gold-level President’s Volun- find ways to save money: less phone data teer Service Award as well as his school’s 2014-2015 Outstanding Law Enforce- usage, no more magazine subscriptions, ment Student award. He would have received the latter last year, but upon fewer television channels and secondhand- learning he’d been considered, Boyes told a friend he wouldn’t accept it. He felt clothes-store shopping.” he didn’t have enough time in the program, and others were more deserving. • Not being one to feel sorry for herself, Beske shares how she need not look far to see others who are worse off. She’s With help from the Rowe scholarship, she Despite these difficulties, she is follow- a volunteer with the Special Olympics competed in the national Job Interview ing her lifelong dream to cook. As a child and plans to work in special education. event and earned a silver medal. barely able to stand, Lester helped her Helping others is part of her character. Haas now attends Stevens Institute of grandmother, and now she cooks for Having found joy in dancing for 15 Technology in Hoboken, N.J. Majoring others through her church. She beams years, she’s started a dance team at Sabin- in visual arts and technology, she plans on when describing the cupcakes with berry Schellenberg Center in Milwaukie, Ore. a double minor incorporating music and filling she made for children in Kentucky. theater as well. She’s been invited into the An assistant manager at the McDon- Following lifelong dreams accelerated graduate program and will stay ald’s in Piney Flats, Lester is earning a The recession of 2008 hit Billie Haas’ a fifth year to get her master’s degree. degree in business administration through family hard. Her father, the sole bread- “I’d love to be able to put my visions and Sanford-Brown College Online. She plans winner, was either laid off or underem- creative ideas in a visual format into the to open her own wine bar with cheeses, ployed before landing a more stable job music industry in some way,” Haas says, desserts and small appetizers. at a retail store. Haas’ mother was taking “whether it’s doing album work or promo- As for the scholarship to the SkillsUSA care of her ailing grandparents, and to tional billboards or even running conference, “I’m extremely offset medical costs, the family had to the graphics at live concerts.” grateful,” the culinary competitor move in with them. Her grandmother A graduate of Sullivan High says. “It’s awesome to have this eventually died, her grandfather suffered School in Blountville, Tenn., Tor i opportunity and to have someone a stroke, and then her mother, now in Lester has three brothers, none like Mike Rowe supporting this remission, was diagnosed with cancer. of whom are old enough to work. organization. Just having him With family life so interrupted, Haas Her father, diagnosed with a brain supporting what we’re trying to turned to her classes at Communications aneurysm, has been unable to. To do, to get into the industry, that’s High School in Wall, N.J. Passion for the supplement her mother’s income, Lester awesome, in my opinion. Because without visual arts and SkillsUSA kept her going. has been working since age 15. him, it would have been really hard.” •

18 SkillsUSA Champions Summer 2015 goldstandard

A Steady Hand in Making SkillsUSA What It Is Today The story of SkillsUSA has its share of everyday champions. Meet a key behind-the-scenes player who is the longest-serving employee in the organization’s history.

ot many people can claim to have Among the biggest changes she’s seen worked at the same place for nearly during her time with the organization N50 years. Karen Beatty is an exception to have been the number of members and the rule — and she’s also exceptional to the variety of programs offered. Also, the many people whose lives she’s touched. workplace of 2015 is drastically different Beatty was only 17 years old when she than it was in 1966. “I’ve managed with started working at SkillsUSA, then known everyday skills I learned at school,” she as the Vocational Industrial Clubs of says, “but it wasn’t always easy with the America (VICA). ever-changing technology.” “I started in May 1966 as a student in Beatty experienced a major personal vocational office training from George C. change in March. She retired after Marshall High School in Falls Church, 47-and-a-half years as a full-time Va.,” she says. “My coordinator set up employee, most recently in SkillsUSA’s an interview with the executive director, business partnerships and development Larry Johnson. He hired me on the spot!” office. Those who’ve met this bundle of At first, Beatty worked part-time for energy, however, understand that retiring the organization, which had only been doesn’t mean she’ll be standing still. founded a year earlier. She attended school “I know I want to spend more time with in the mornings and took a bus to the my two grandsons and the rest of my office, then located in Washington, D.C. family,” she says. “Later down the road, I After graduating, she became a full-time might consider doing some volunteer work employee and never looked back. “I never just to keep moving and stay alert.” Photo: Ann P. Schreiber thought about working elsewhere. I was According to Beatty, “the future for content with the job I had,” she explains. SkillsUSA looks bright.” She praises the Having been there from (almost) the organization for its longevity and mission. By Craig E. Moore beginning, Beatty remembers a time “I really admire its mission to serve young when VICA’s three or four staff members people with the skills they’ll need to make managed the entire national conference. it in the world of work,” she adds. “When I joined the staff, there were For her own part, Beatty hopes to have only a couple thousand members,” she made a positive mark on the organization. adds. “The contest program in 1967 “I think my work ethic speaks for itself,” consisted of a handful of contests, and she says. Ask any of her coworkers and there was no formal name for it.” they will confirm: It definitely does.•

Summer 2015 SkillsUSA Champions 19 toolbox

Believe in What You Say, Say What You Believe In

hen SkillsUSA was founded in 1965, an organizational creed was also introducedW that remains official today. But what do the words actually mean? “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.” These are the six statements that make up SkillsUSA’s creed. Split your class into three groups, and assign each group two lines to discuss. First, come to a consensus on what the lines actually mean. For example, what is the “dignity” of work? Why do you think good work brings satisfaction? If able, offer personal examples of how the line Photo: Lloyd Wolf applies to your life or belief system. Come together as a class and share your thoughts. Are the lines of the creed still Far and away the best prize that life has relevant today? Why or why not? You can find desktop wallpaper of the to offer is the chance to work hard at work SkillsUSA creed at: www.skillsusa.org/ worth doing. membership-resources/students/computer- wallpaper/. • — Theodore roosevelT

Find the photo, win a prize No, the picture on the left isn’t abstract art. It’s actually a distorted part of another photo in this issue. Find the original photo and send us the page number where it appears to win a SkillsUSA sport duffel bag (first prize) or travel mug (second prize). To enter, email your answer, name, address and phone number to: [email protected] (include “Photo Contest” in the subject line). Or, send to: SkillsUSA Photo Contest, 14001 SkillsUSA Way, Leesburg, VA 20176. One first- and one second-prize winner will be drawn at random from the correct entries. Entries must be received by Aug. 1. Congratulations to last issue’s winners: Michael Brisbin of Odessa, Mo., and Angel Gomez of Lynwood, Calif. •

20 SkillsUSA Champions Summer 2015 spotlight

THINKING Their skills are dog-gone good INSIDE THE BOX onstruction students at Jackson (Ga.) High School have designed and TO SAVE DUCKS built doghouses for sale. They also donated several to the Butts County CSheriff’s Office K-9 units. The project gives students a chance to raise funds, tudents Joseph Beebe and T.J. practice a variety of construction skills they’re learning in class, and serve Frampton stepped up to help ducks their community all at the same time. • nestS on Goat Island on the Pocomoke River near Snow Hill, Md. The island’s department of public works director, Ronald Donnelly, contacted Worcester

Technical High in nearby Newark to Used with permission. see if students could help construct new nesting boxes to replace badly damaged existing ones. Geared for wood ducks,

the boxes offer a sheltered place to lay Photo: Sonny Braswell, Jackson High School. eggs out of the reach of predators. For their efforts, Beebe and Frampton earned a bronze medal in SkillsUSA’s Commu- nity Action Project competition. •

Photo: Matthew Elburn. Making tracks for inclusion Building trades students at Bethlehem (Pa.) Area Vocational Technical School

(BAVTS) built easels and frames to display

children’s paintings created in the Wheels of Worcester Technical High School. Used with permission. Friendship program developed by the orga-

nization Mikayla’s Voice. What they got in

Beebe and Frampton install a nesting box. return was an understanding of the impor- tance of inclusion of people with physical, Taking a bite out of food waste To reduce cafeteria food waste at Upper mental, emotional and cultural differences.

Photo: Kim Resh, Mikayla’s Voice Cape Cod Regional Technical School Used with permission. in Bourne, Mass., Jack Rodgers and BAVTS students created their own painting with Mikayla Joseph Fisher, environmental science and technology students, have developed a Resh (above, second from left), for whom the organization is named. Students composting system incorporating black soldier fly larvae. The feeding larvae applied paint to the wheels of Mikayla’s chair and assisted her in making rapidly decompose food waste. The two tracks on the canvas. BAVTS earned bronze in SkillsUSA’s Community Service earned gold in the national Community Action Project contest for their work. • contest. To learn more about Mikayla’s Voice, visit: www.mikaylasvoice.org/. •

Summer 2015 SkillsUSA Champions 21 image

killsUSA Champions features our members’ photography. We’re looking for images of SkillsUSA chapters in action, or ones that show individual members’ concentration or perseverance. For details, email [email protected] (put “Image Photo” in the subject Sheader) or write SkillsUSA Champions, 14001 SkillsUSA Way, Leesburg, VA 20176. The photographer’s chapter is awarded $150. •

I feel like it was a little bit better than getting a bronze in SkillsUSA. It was so awesome that we did that, but, I mean, helping these children made me feel like we got first place in my heart. Alaina Riera, of Ohio’s Willoughby-Eastlake Career Academy, served as project manager for a children’s hospital gala and medaled in Community Service at the state level

The desires, goals, challenges and rewards are still the same today for stu- dents as they were when I was able to use VICA to help mold my dreams. Bryan Glispie of Altadena, Calif., a 1975-76 state officer, For 50 years, SkillsUSA has been connecting students: 1977-78 national officer first in high schools, then colleges and now middle and three-time medalist in schools. Morgan Johnson, a digital media technology TV and Radio Repair, is an student at (Pa.) County Technology Center, Emmy Award winner who’s captured Dallas Buterbaugh studying electrical worked for ABC Sports and occupations. Johnson’s advisor is Melaney Brewbaker. Fox Broadcasting Photo: Morgan Johnston

22 SkillsUSA Champions Summer 2015 WITH 50 SOLID YEARS BEHIND US, SUPPORT OUR AMBITIOUS STEPS FORWARD.

urchase your own custom-engraved P paver for the walkway of SkillsUSA’s National Leadership Center. Commemorate your SkillsUSA experience or honor a cherished mentor and become part of SkillsUSA forever. As we celebrate our 50th anniversary of empowering our members to become world-class workers, leaders SkillsUSA’s National Leadership Center and responsible American citizens, here’s your chance to help us build for the future, brick by brick. is located in Leesburg, Virginia, approximately 50 miles northwest of our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. Choose the brick-pricing category that best showcases e building houses the SkillsUSA sta and historical your commitment to SkillsUSA: displays. Along with welcoming inuential visitors such Corporations / State Associations $500 as industry executives, manufacturers and VIPs from Individual Adult $100 Individual Student $50 education and government, it has meeting space for student, teacher and business conferences. To purchase your paver and to learn more about this perpetual campaign, please visit: www.skillsusa.org/store/pavers

Paver Campaign Partner For more information, please contact Christen Battaglia at [email protected] or call 703-737-0627. Ue

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