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Logo SkillsUSA Michigan

Advisor Update

February 2026

Happy SkillsUSA Week & Regionals Month!  

SkillsUSA Week takes place February 2-8, 2025.  Grab a few student members and have them follow the link to plan activities for your classroom or chapter to help promote SkillsUSA and highlight the importance of the skilled trades.

Regional Competitions

It is finally time for our regional competitions.  Check the regional webpage for information on your region.


The Direct to State Form deadline has been extended to February 20.  Contact your Regional Representative for the link to the form.

State Leadership & Skills Conference

IMPORTANT: Hospitality Date and Location Update

The hospitality competitions for 2026 will take place at Schoolcraft College in Livonia, MI on April 11. Doors will open at 7:30 AM, with student check in from 8:00 AM – 8:30 AM. A virtual orientation will take place on April 10 at 5pm on Zoom.


Contest Guidelines

Competition guidelines are on track to be live on the website mid-month. Be on the lookout for an announcement when they are ready.

State Officer Applications

Due March 1, 2026


Being a State Officer is one of the most rewarding experiences SkillsUSA offers its student members.


Having a full State Officer Team is critical to the success of the organization, so we need your outstanding student leaders to take the leap and become candidates!


Follow this link to begin the State Officer Candidate Application Process


If your school plans to submit candidates, we strongly recommend limiting your submissions to the best 2 candidates from your school.


Reach out to Andrew at [email protected] with any questions. 

Other Updates

Michigan Scholarship Opportunity

Applications for the SkillsUSA Michigan Keith Hallett Memorial Scholarship are now open!  Apply online here by March 15, 2026.  The scholarship, name in Keith Hallett’s memory, is for students competing in the following competitions:

  • Automotive Maintenance and Light Repair

  • Automotive Refinishing Technology

  • Automotive Service Technology

  • Collision Damage Appraisal

  • Collision Repair Technology

  • Diesel Equipment Technology

  • Firefighting

Chapter Excellence Program

Submit your chapter application for the Chapter Excellence Program by February 15th for state and possibly national recognition.  You all do such amazing work and deserve to be recognized for it!


SkillsUSA Michigan Advisor of the Year

Submit your application for Michigan Advisor of the Year by February 15th for state and possibly national recognition.  Professional members whose chapter completed a CEP Level 2 qualify to submit an AOY application. The AOY application is visible on the registration website only when the CEP level 2 has been submitted (last year’s CEP submission counts as well).



Have a fantastic February!


Bradley Ransom

State Director

[email protected]

Updates from the National Office

Industry Insider: Construction Recordings & Event Resources

The Industry Insider: Construction recordings are now live on SkillsUSA Pathful! Through authentic, industry-led conversations, students gain an insider’s perspective on what it takes to succeed in today’s construction industry, helping them build occupational identity, confidence, and clarity around their future career paths.

 

Students can watch the videos individually or as part of a classroom experience, featuring the following career areas:

All videos are available on demand. To access them:

  1. Log in to SkillsUSA Pathful

  2. Navigate to the Work-Based Learning tab

  3. Click Videos

  4. Search “Industry Insider” to view all four recording

 

Celebrate SkillsUSA Week – Feb. 2–6, 2026!

Mark your calendars! SkillsUSA Week is coming, and it’s the perfect way to spotlight the skilled trades, celebrate Career and Technical Education Month, and empower your students. Chapters can participate with simple, daily-themed activities—from recognition and service projects to career exploration and advocacy.

 

Check out the SkillsUSA Week Chapter Guide for ideas, tools, and resources to make the most of this special week.

 


Share Your SkillsUSA Week Photos

As you celebrate SkillsUSA Week, we would like to as you to please share your SkillsUSA Week photos with us. We would like to feature your photos in a Flickr gallery on our website. You can email photos or photo links to Craig Moore or upload them here.

 


February SkillsUSA Professional Development Sessions

Level up your chapter and bring the industry to your classroom with our February professional development sessions. Whether you're looking to master Work-Based Learning or refine your CEP application, we’ve got a time slot for you.

 

Mark your calendars:

  • Feb 2: High School WBL Toolkit (4:30 & 7 p.m. ET)

  • Feb 4: SkillsUSA Pathful & Industry Connections (4 & 7 p.m. ET)

  • Feb 10: WBL Models & Career Discovery (4 & 7 p.m. ET)

  • Feb 12: Advanced Chapter Excellence Program (4 & 7 p.m. ET)

Secure your spot here: www.skillsusa.org/advisors/professional-development/


 

Register Members by the March 1 Deadline

The national SkillsUSA membership deadline is March 1. Student members must meet both state and national membership deadlines to be eligible for national competitions, to serve as voting delegates or to run for national office. This deadline also applies to national scholarships, awards and honors.

 

Professional members, it isn’t too late to take advantage of your 2025-26 membership benefits, including access to these resources:

  • Professional Member Resources: 

    • SkillsUSA Pathful: a dynamic digital platform that supports career exploration and connects students with industry professionals through live and on-demand content

    • SkillsUSA Framework Integration Toolkit

    • SkillsUSA Program of Work Toolkit

    • Xplore

    • SkillsUSA Technical Standards

    • E-Courses (SkillsUSA Framework Certification, CTE Knowledge Certification and Building Self-Motivation in Student Leaders).

    • Advisor Professional Development

 

Now Available: SkillsUSA Pathful Walkthrough Videos

SkillsUSA Pathful walkthrough videos are now available on the SkillsUSA website and YouTube to help advisors and students access member benefits and navigate the platform with confidence.  These role-specific videos focus on accessing the platform, with additional guidance for advisors using Pathful in the classroom and students exploring career-ready skills.


What’s Included

 

Save the Date: SkillsUSA National Signing Day — May 6, 2026 (or your date of choice!)

Chapters can host their Signing Day event on the national date or select any local date that fits their schedule. Celebrate students committing to skilled career pathways, apprenticeships, workforce entry, or continued CTE training. Early-bird registration runs March 1–31. The first 20 chapters to register 10 students will receive a National Signing Day incentive, and the first 3,000 registrations completed by the early-bird deadline will receive the official NSD hat. Registration closes May 1. Access planning guides, templates, invites, and celebration ideas at signingday.skillsusa.org.


 

SkillsUSA College/Postsecondary Scholarships Are Open!

Many students are thinking ahead to the cost of college and SkillsUSA offers exclusive scholarship opportunities for members pursuing postsecondary education. Registered SkillsUSA members with upcoming tuition expenses for the fall 2026 academic term can apply for scholarships provided by SkillsUSA and our industry partners.

 

Scholarships now open include:

  • Clifford “Ted” Rees Memorial Scholarship ($2,500, closes April 17)

  • Fine Homebuilding #KeepCraftAlive Scholarship ($2,500, closes April 17)

  • Larry Rash Memorial Scholarship ($2,500, closes April 17)

  • Marsha Daves Memorial Scholarship ($1,500, closes April 17)

  • NAPA/SkillsUSA Transportation Repair Pathway Scholarship ($2,500, closes June 30)

  • National Technical Honor Society Scholarship ($1,000, closes April 17)

  • Sharon Melton Myers Memorial ($1,000, closes April 17)  

SkillsUSA partners with Kaleidoscope to provide a streamlined application platform. Students are encouraged to explore the SkillsUSA Scholarships webpage now to view available opportunities and more will be posted soon. For scholarship questions or assistance in applying, reach out to Customer Care.

 


FINAL REMINDER SME Foundation Scholarships

The SME Education Foundation awards scholarships to graduating high school seniors and current college students pursuing an associate or bachelor’s degree in technical fields that directly support manufacturing. Applications will be accepted until Feb. 1, 2026. If you have already registered on the site, use your email and password to login. If you have not registered, please complete SME’s registration form to set up an account and begin your application. With more than 60 scholarship programs, the SME Foundation provides both merit and need-based scholarships, issues renewing and one-time awards, and seeks applications from all eligible students including women and under-represented communities. The Foundation awards nearly $1 million dollars in scholarships each year and has awarded $18 million dollars to over 5,000 future industry leaders since 2005. By submitting one application, you will be considered for all SME Foundation scholarships for which you are eligible.


 

Share Your Community Service Stories with SkillsUSA!

The SkillsUSA Champions digital hub provides new content frequently, from inspiring features to stories about the great work chapters and partners are doing. We know your chapters are doing some amazing community service work this holiday season and we would love to write about it. To submit a story idea, send us the details through our “Submit a Story” link, and we’ll contact you.

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Eastern Michigan University

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