Middle School Competitions
Competition Descriptions
Below is a brief description of each competition currently part of the SkillsUSA Championships for Middle School competitors.
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.
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.
Chapter Display
(Team of 3) 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Job Skill Demonstration Open
Competitors demonstrate and explain an entry-level technical skill used either in the occupational area for which he or she is 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.
Opening and Closing Ceremonies
(Team of 7) 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.
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.
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.
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.
Promotional Bulletin Board
(Team of 3) 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.
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.
Skilled and Technical
Mobile Robotics Technology
(Team of 2) 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.
Robotics - Urban Search and Rescue
(Team of 2) 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.
Team Engineering Challenge
(Team of 3) 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.
Become a Member
Hey there, middle schoolers! You’ve got what it takes to be a SkillsUSA champion, no matter who you are or where you’re from. Join us today because being skilled has never been more awesome!
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