More than 6,000 career and technical education students are participating in hands-on skills and leadership competitions this week at the SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference in Atlanta. SkillsUSA calls the event “the largest gathering of America’s future skilled workforce.” Total attendance was expected to be 15,000, including students, teachers, education leaders and representatives from 650 national corporations, trade associations, businesses, and labor unions.
This year, Harbor Freight Tools for Schools awarded nearly $70,000 in travel scholarships to 109 students, double the number who received a scholarship last year. Harbor Freight Tools for Schools also provided cash prizes for 27 competition areas.
Throughout the week, students demonstrate their expertise in a wide variety of trades including construction, welding, electronics, computer-aided drafting and precision machining.
According to SkillsUSA, more than $36 million from industry and education is invested in the SkillsUSA Championships. The event requires an immense amount of equipment and materials including 2,000 computers, 12,500 bricks and 1,500 blocks, more than 100 welders and complete laboratories for machining, welding, auto repair and painting.