w w w . r s e s j o u r n a l . c o m10 RSES Journal JUNE 2013

National SkillsUSA Competition Agenda

NOTE: This is a tentative agenda and is subject to change. Please visit www.skillsusa.org to check for any changes and for information about each event.

SAtUrdAy, JUNe 228 a.m.–10 a.m. Leverage, Activate & Engage Registration

10 a.m.–5:15 p.m. Leverage, Activate & Engage

1 p.m.–5 p.m. Conference Registration

SUNdAy, JUNe 238:30 a.m.–5:15 p.m. Leverage, Activate & Engage

8 a.m.–5 p.m. Alumni Training

10 a.m. –6 p.m. Conference Registration

9 a.m. SkillsUSA Championships move in

1–4 p.m. ASTS Business Meeting

MoNdAy, JUNe 248:30 a.m.–3 p.m. Leverage, Activate & Engage

9 a.m. SkillsUSA Championships move in

9 a.m. State Directors Meeting

9 a.m.–12 p.m. Alumni Training

2 p.m. Contest Chairs’ Meeting

tUeSdAy, JUNe 257:30 a.m. SkillsUSA Championships move-in

8 a.m.–4 p.m. TECHSPO & Career Fair

8:30 a.m.–4:45 p.m. TAG Tuesday (Delegates)

9 a.m.–12 p.m. Advisor of the Year Interviews

10 a.m.–2 p.m. National Officer Candidate Procedure

11 a.m.–6 p.m. Contestant Orientation Meetings

12 p.m.–6 p.m. Set up Display event, exhibits and check in notebooks

2 p.m. Joint Delegate Session

7 p.m.–10 p.m. Champions Night at the Power & Light District

7:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m. 100% Advisor's Reception

B y L o r i K a s a L L i s

Check out how the annual competition brings more than a medal to the next generation of HVaCr professionals.

Mentoring Kids to the goldMEntoRing KidS to thE gold

Image courtesy of Lloyd Wolf for SkillsUSA.

While it is no secret that the indus-try continues to see a gap in the number of skilled and qualified

HVACR professionals leaving and entering the field, it is not without dedication and commitment—and perhaps some grassroots efforts—from an array of industry represen-tatives that is drawing in the next genera-tion of professionals to the field.

Several manufacturers are playing their part by drawing in younger workers via a plethora of high-tech tools and equip-ment that “speaks” to what intrigues this group—electronics and automation. Many successful HVACR-business owners are working to bring in more workers by men-toring, providing continuous training, education, and learning what drives their younger hires. Numerous associations are also attempting to attract younger mem-bers to chapter events in order to reveal the benefits of belonging to an organiza-tion that can provide continuous profes-sional and educational support. Were it not for the trainers and instructors, at both the high-school and secondary-edu-cation levels driving individuals to the in-dustry via programs like SkillsUSA, that gap would continue to grow.

Students get their chance to reveal the HVACR knowledge their instructors have been imparting upon them during the 2013 SkillsUSA competition in Kansas City, MO, June 24–28, at the 49th annual Na-tional Leadership and Skills Conference. This year’s event will bring an estimated

JUNE 2013 RSES Journal 11w w w . r s e s j o u r n a l . c o mw w w . r s e s j o u r n a l . c o m

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WedNeSdAy, JUNe 267:30 a.m. Leadership contestants report to contest area

7:30 a.m.–8:45 a.m. President’s Volunteer Service Award Breakfast

7:45 a.m. Teachers' Continental Breakfast

8:30 a.m.–9:45 a.m. A Call to Action Teachers' Session

8 a.m.–5 p.m. SkillsUSA Championships (open to the public)

8 a.m.–4 p.m. TECHSPO & Career Fair

9:00 a.m.–4 p.m. Delegate Meetings

10:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. SkillsUSA’s Amazing Race

10:30 a.m.–4 p.m. SkillsUSA University

2:30 p.m. SkillsUSA Corporate Meeting

7 p.m. Opening Ceremony/Opening of the SkillsUSA Championships

thUirSdAy, JUNe 277:30 a.m. Contestants report to contest area

8 a.m. Leadership contests finals

9 a.m.–4 p.m. SkillsUSA Championships (open to the public)

8 a.m.–4 p.m. TECHSPO & Career Fair (indoor exhibits close at 3 p.m.)

10 a.m.–2 p.m. SkillsUSA University

1 p.m. Meet the Candidates/Delegate Assembly Business Mtg.

6:30 p.m.–11 p.m. “SkillsUSA Night” at Worlds of Fun

fridAy, JUNe 287:30 a.m. State Directors' Breakfast

8 a.m. SkillsUSA Championships Move-out

8 a.m. Community Service Project

8:30 a.m. State Directors' Business Meeting

9 a.m. (and 1 p.m.) SkillsUSA University

10:30 a.m. Delegate Assembly Business Mtg./Meet the Candidates

10:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. ASTS Business Meeting and Teacher's Luncheon

6 p.m. Awards Ceremony

6,000 career and technical education students—all state contest winners—to compete hands-on in 98 different trades, technical and leadership fields. The HVACR and sheet-metal compe-titions reside among the 63 skilled and technical sciences contests.

More than competitionFor those competing, winning is the highest honor. However, the week of events provides the some 15,000 ex-pected attendees—including students, teachers and business partners—to in-teract, network and talk shop among like-minded individuals, all in an effort to shape the future of the industry.

Traditional events that take place include the SkillsUSA TECHSPO, which gives competing students a chance to meet key decision-makers in vocational-technical and school-to-work education, and leaders from business-

es and the industry. Like last year, this event also includes a Career Fair, where students and company representatives can interact.

Also taking place at the TECH-SPO is the National Young Worker Safety Day (NYWSD), being held on June 25 at 9 a.m. As part of the larg-er campaign, “A Million Safer,” led by CareerSafe, NYWSD is targeted at making a significant and critical impact on decreasing the number of young worker injuries and fatalities in the U.S. At the CareerSafe TECH-SPO booth, students and teachers will sign the pledge to “StartSafe. StaySafe.” joining more than 4,000 others who made the same pledge in 2012.

Students will have an opportunity to participate in interactive safety games for prizes that will further educate them on the importance of young worker safety training. In addition, students

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and teachers will have the opportunity to gather valuable safety materials and speak with the experi-enced CareerSafe staff about safety-related questions and concerns.

Additional events include Community Action Projects, which requires contestants to develop and execute a project in their community or school. Doc-umentation of the project is presented at the Skills-USA Championships for judging. The presentation must be at least five minutes and a maximum of 10 minutes, explaining the purpose and scope of the project, how the project was developed, methods used, implementation and execution of the project withresults.

One of the more HVACR-industry relevant demonstration projects is the Mobile Electronics Installation, which tests contestants’ abilities to perform standard installation practic-es used by certified, professional mobile electronics installers. These skills have been established through the certification objectives and items created for the Basic MECP certification by the Consumer Electronics Association. The event includes

a written examination covering the Basic MECP certification, a professional interview and five hands-on applications that in-clude taking electrical measurements, installing consumer elec-tronics equipment in a mobile environment, soldering, working with relay circuits and troubleshooting electronic circuitry.

Mentoring kids to the goldThe SkillsUSA competition will be held on June 27 in the H. Roe Bartle Hall and Municipal Auditorium. When all is said and done, one student from each of the HVACR and sheet-metal categories will walk away with the gold.

However, it is their education that got them to the national competition and all of the guidance and interactions they have had along the way and dur-ing the week of SkillsUSA that will pave the future for these individuals.

To quote RSES International Presi-dent Mike Eckstein, CM, about shap-ing the next generation entering the workforce: “…I think teachers, men-tors, parents, uncles/aunts should grab these kids and give them what they need—time; something U.S. kids don’t get anymore because their parents both hold jobs. I believe it takes someone who cares to reach out to these kids and mold them.”

The road that leads these students to the SkillsUSA competition is a long one, but it is filled with the guid-ance and encouragement from those who have taken a similar path that many kids today need. What better way is there to train up the next crop of budding HVACR contractors, tech-nicians and facility managers than be-coming a part of their development and growth? For more information about SkillsUSA, including information about becoming in-volved, visit www.skillsusa.org.

one student from each of the HVaCr and sheet-metal competitions will walk away with the gold, but it is their guidance and interactions they have had along the way and during the week of skillsUsa that will pave the future for these individuals.