Middle School Competitions
Competition Descriptions
Leadership
Action Skills
This competition requires a five- to seven-minute demonstration of an occupational skill in an area in which a student is training. Competitors use examples, experiments, displays, or practical operations to clearly explain their skills using competitor-prepared visual aids. A letter from an appropriate school official on school letterhead stating that the competitor is classified under the provisions of Public Law 105-17, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 1997, is required for participation.
Individual
American Spirit
This is a professional portfolio competition 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.
Teams of 3
Chapter Display
SkillsUSA student members build a three-dimensional display that articulates the annual SkillsUSA competition theme. The members of the chapter build the display and three students present information about the display during a presentation and interview with judges.
Teams of 3
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 and demonstrates excellence and professionalism. The project may be a larger school/community project; however, two students must be part of the core organization team and document the project and results based on the guidelines in the technical standards. A letter from an appropriate school official on school letterhead stating that the competitor is classified under the provisions of Public Law 105-17, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 1997, is required for participation.
Teams of 2
Community Service
The Community Service competition evaluates local chapter activities that benefit their communities while members become productive community members. SkillsUSA chapters present their best community service project for the current school year. Competitors are evaluated on a professional portfolio 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.
Teams of 3
Extemporaneous Speaking
The competition requires competitors to give a three- to five-minute speech on an assigned topic with five minutes of advance preparation. Competitors 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.
Individual
Job Skill Demonstration A
Competitors demonstrate and explain an entry-level skill used in the occupational area for which they are training. The competition requires a demonstration performing an occupational skill accompanied by a clear explanation of the topic using experiments, displays or practical operations.
Individual
Job Skill Demonstration Open
Competitors demonstrate and explain an entry-level technical skill used either in the occupational area for which they are training or outside the training area. The competition requires a demonstration performing an occupational skill accompanied by a clear explanation of the topic using experiments, displays or practical operations.
Individual
Opening and Closing Ceremonies
This teamwork and oral presentation competition evaluates a team’s 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.
Teams of 7
Outstanding Chapter
The competition consists of documenting and presenting 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 competitions and other selected chapter activities. Each activity is documented in a professional portfolio and a team of three members are interviewed.
Teams of 3
Pacific Northwest Pin Design (State Only)
The competition is designed to assess the competitor’s ability to design and produce a Pin design concept for the Pacific Northwest. Pins will be provided to each of the Qualifying National Leadership and Skills Conference contestants from Washington, Oregon and Idaho. This competition is open to middle school, high-school and college/postsecondary competitors. Online submission only – no presentation.
Submissions will be accepted from October 15, 2024 – January 31, 2025. The winner will be announced on February 6, 2025.
Individual
Pin Design
Students present their winning state conference pin and artwork and participate in an oral presentation regarding all aspects of the creation of their design. Competitors 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 competitor will create a tabletop display that represents the process they used to create the design.
Individual
Prepared Speech
The competition requires students to deliver a five- to seven-minute prepared speech based on the annual SkillsUSA competition theme. Competitors 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.
Individual
Promotional Bulletin Board
The competition evaluates bulletin board displays created by SkillsUSA chapters based on the annual SkillsUSA competition theme. The bulletin boards promote SkillsUSA, career and technical education in general and related occupational information. An accompanying professional portfolio documents the development and construction of the bulletin board. An oral presentation explains the process, purpose and educational value of the bulletin board.
Teams of 3
T-shirt Design
Students present their winning state conference T-shirt and create a professional portfolio that documents the process used to create the design. Competitors will participate in an oral presentation regarding all aspects of the creation of their design and explain how the T-shirt represents their state, its unique qualities and why another SkillsUSA student or adult member would want to wear the shirt.
Individual
State Design (State Only)
The competition is designed to assess the competitor’s ability to design and produce a T-shirt or Pin design concept for SkillsUSA Washington. Pins will be provided to contestants at the State Leadership and Skills Conference and T-Shirts and Pins will be provided to each of the Qualifying National contestants. This competition is open to middle school, high-school and college/postsecondary competitors. Online submission only – no presentation.
Submissions will be accepted from October 15, 2024 – January 31, 2025. The winner(s) will be announced on February 6, 2025.
Individual
Occupationally Related
Preventative Athletic Taping (State Only)
Competitors will demonstrate proficiency in the restriction of motion of an injured joint, compress soft tissues to reduce swelling, support anatomical structures involved in the injury, serve as a splint or secure a splint, secure dressing or bandages, protect the injured joint from re-injury, and protect the injured part while the injured part is in the healing process.
Individual
Skilled and Technical
2D Animation (State Only)
This competition is open to a team of two active SkillsUSA Washington members enrolled in programs with art, animation, digital arts or graphic design. This competition explores the techniques, standards and principles of the animation industry. Students will present a 2D animation presentation. This competition is open to middle school, high-school and college/postsecondary competitors.
Teams of 2
Computer Maintenance Technology (State Only)
This contest is open to active SkillsUSA Washington members enrolled in programs with Computer Repair, Electronic Product Servicing, Electronics Technology Cyber Security, Information Security, or Systems and Networking Security Architecture as an occupational objective. The contest is defined by industry standards as determined by the Testout-PCPro Certification Examination. This competition is open to middle school, high school and college/postsecondary competitors.
Individual
Mobile Robotics Technology
The competition includes activities that simulate situations encountered by robotic programmers and support professionals. Teams are given a task to solve using a mobile robotic system that is built ahead of time and brought to the competition. Teams will have two scored chances to solve the mobile robotic challenge and will be given a design and programming interview. Once a team has performed the required task or set of tasks, a design change may be introduced. Competitors are required to adhere to industry safety standards using the hardware and software they have selected.
For more information, check out the Middle School Game Manual related to this competition.
Teams of 2
Robotics - Urban Search and Rescue
Teams are required to build a robot and arm mechanism prior to the competition. The robot must be capable of locating, grabbing and moving simulated ordnances on the challenge course. This competition assesses proficiencies such as remotely operating the robot via camera, navigation, manipulating the arm mechanism to collect simulated ordnances, traversing various types of terrain, and communication between driver and spotter. Find more information in the Robotics: Urban Search and Rescue Challenge Guide 2023.
Teams of 2
Team Engineering Challenge
This competition evaluates and recognizes outstanding students for excellence and professionalism in the areas of creative and critical thinking skills and the decision-making process used to solve a problem. The competition is intended to foster creativity, innovation, teamwork and problem-solving skills.
Teams of 3
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