Action Skills

This contest requires a five- to seven-minute demonstration of an occupational skill in an area in which a student is training. Contestants use examples, experiments, displays or practical operations to clearly explain their skills using contestant-prepared visual aids.

American Spirit

This is a notebook contest documenting SkillsUSA chapters’ community service; patriotism and citizenship; and promotion of career and technical education projects that demonstrate a belief in the American way of life and the purposes of SkillsUSA.

Chapter Business Procedure

Student teams of six demonstrate knowledge of parliamentary procedure in both a written exam and a team demonstration. The written exam will consist of 100 questions related to materials found in Robert’s Rules of Order—Newly Revised. Order a copy here. Scores are averaged and included as part of the team’s overall score. During the presentation, the team will demonstrate the running of a typical business meeting using a standard order of business. During the presentation, the team must properly insert into the order of business the secretary’s minutes, treasurer’s report and business items identified by the technical committee. In addition to the debate and transaction of the business items, teams will also properly demonstrate at least six different parliamentary procedure motions, including at least one of each of the following: main, privileged, subsidiary, incidental and motions that bring back issues to the floor. Minutes of the demonstration will be read by the secretary upon completion of the demonstration.

Chapter Display

SkillsUSA student members build a three-dimensional display that articulates a national annual theme established by SkillsUSA. The members of the chapter build the display and three students present information about the display during a presentation and interview with judges.

Community Action Project

A team of two students must develop, execute, document and present a completed community service project that provides a benefit to the community or the school, that demonstrates excellence and professionalism. The project may be a larger school/community project; however, the two students must be part of the core organization team and document the project and results based on the guidelines in the standards. This event also enables the community to become aware of the outstanding work being performed by career and technical education students. Open to active SkillsUSA members enrolled in career and technical programs with entry-level job skills as the occupational objective. A letter from the appropriate school official on school letterhead stating that the contestant is classified under the provisions of Public Law 105-17, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 1997, is required for participation.

Community Service

The community service competition evaluates local chapter activities that benefit the communities while becoming productive community members. SkillsUSA chapters present their best community service project for the year. Contestants are evaluated on a notebook that details their chapter’s community service project and on a presentation to a panel of judges. The competencies that are evaluated are based on the team’s professionalism in the visual representation of the project, designing and implementing an engaging presentation, and effective delivery of that presentation.

Employment Application Process

Tests the contestant’s readiness in applying for employment and their understanding of the process. The competition includes completing an application and interviewing with the judges. Their résumé and portfolio are used during their interviews. The contest is available to students who are classified under the provisions of Public Law 105-17, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 1997.

Extemporaneous Speaking

The contest requires contestants to give a three- to five-minute speech on an assigned topic with five minutes of advance preparation. Contestants enter the preparation area one at a time, where they are given a speech topic. They are judged on voice, mechanics, platform deportment, organization and effectiveness.

Job Interview

This contest is divided into three phases: completion of employment applications; preliminary interviews with receptionist; and in-depth interviews. Contestants are evaluated on their understanding of employment procedures faced in applying for positions in the occupational areas in which they are training.

Job Skill Demonstration A

Contestants demonstrate and explain an entry-level skill used in the occupational area for which they are training. Competitors in Job Skill A must demonstrate a career objective in an occupational area that is included in one of the contest areas of the SkillsUSA Championships.

Job Skill Demonstration Open

Contestants demonstrate and explain an entry-level skill used in an occupational area outside of their training program. Any technical skill may be demonstrated, from outside the training program of the participant.

Occupational Health and Safety

Contestants demonstrate the safety and health endeavors of their respective technical programs by putting together a scrapbook that highlights important programs, activities and events related to their school’s health and safety program. The competition encourages chapters to be active in all phases of SkillsUSA. The health and safety activities of the chapters are evaluated on the planning and organization of four projects and the outcome of those projects. Students are interviewed and portfolios are scored by a panel of judges based on the quality and content of the books and on the candidates’ presentation during the interview process.

Opening and Closing Ceremonies

( A teamwork and oral presentation contest that evaluates teams’ understanding of the symbolic representation of the colors and assembled parts of the SkillsUSA emblem. Each team includes seven registered members in the roles of president, vice president, parliamentarian, reporter, treasurer, secretary and historian.

Outstanding Chapter

The Outstanding Chapter contest consists of activities members have been involved with during the school year including chapter meetings, leadership training, publicity, community service projects, professional development, program of work, awards, local and state competition and other selected chapter activities. Each activity is documented according to judging. Each team consist of three members, and all will be interviewed during the competition.

Pin Design

Students present their state-winning pin along with their artwork and participate in an oral presentation regarding all aspects of their creation of the design. Contestants will explain how the pin represents their state, its unique qualities and why another SkillsUSA student or adult member would want to wear the pin. The student must also create a tabletop display that is educational and represents the process that took place in creating the design.

Prepared Speech

This contest requires students to deliver a five- to seven-minute speech on a common theme established by SkillsUSA for the current school year. Contestants are evaluated on their ability to present thoughts relating to the central theme clearly and effectively, and are rated on voice, mechanics, and platform deportment.

Promotional Bulletin Board

Judges bulletin board displays created by SkillsUSA chapters based on the annual SkillsUSA theme. The bulletin boards promote SkillsUSA, career and technical education in general, and related occupational information. An accompanying notebook documents the development and construction of the bulletin board. An oral presentation explains the process, purpose and educational value.

Quiz Bowl

The Quiz Bowl tests a team of five competitors on their ability to quickly respond to questions covering the areas of academic knowledge, SkillsUSA Career Essentials knowledge and current events. The competitors also demonstrate communications, time management, teamworking and problem-solving skills. The participants respond to a question by activating a buzzer. The teams receive one point for a correct answer and lose a point for each incorrect answer. The preliminary and final rounds are 100 questions each.

T-shirt Design

The contest is designed to assess the ability of the competitor to design and produce a drawing of that design, as well as give a presentation regarding all aspects of his or her creation of the design.