FRANKFORT, Ky. (March 28, 2008) – Steve Phillippi, SkillsUSA Kentucky state director, announced today that the Lowe’s Charitable and Education Foundation has awarded a $3,400 grant to support the 2008 state-level construction trades competitive event, TeamWorks. In addition to the cash donation, Lowe’s provided 24 fully equipped tool bags for student winners worth a total of approximately $3,600.
The SkillsUSA Kentucky State Conference and Skills Championship will be held in Louisville from April 1-4. The state TeamWorks event will be held on April 3 at 8:30 a.m. EDT at the Carpenters’ Union Hall off Preston Highway in Louisville. Three Kentucky high school teams will compete including two from C.E. McCormick Area Technology Center in Alexandria and one from Martin County Area Technology Center in Inez.
The TeamWorks competitive event requires a team of four members to build a joint project in six hours or less, demonstrating their preparation for employment in residential construction. To compete in TeamWorks, members must analyze a project drawing, write an action plan, give a presentation and demonstrate their ability to work as a team performing skills in residential carpentry, plumbing, electricity and masonry. They are also judged on cleanliness of jobsite, timeliness of completing the project and proper inventory of tools and equipment.
“We are pleased SkillsUSA Kentucky received this grant because of the impact it will have in providing students with supplies and equipment during a competitive event being done as a community service project,” said Phillippi. “We thank Lowe’s for its insight in supporting the development of students and its impact on education and community service. We also appreciate the local Lowe’s for providing judges for the TeamWorks event.”
Lowe’s Charitable and Education Foundation is helping to address the country’s growing skilled worker shortage and skills gap by contributing a total of $1 million to SkillsUSA programs.
“TeamWorks competitions provide a rare opportunity for today’s youth to receive hands-on experience in construction trades,” said Larry D. Stone, chairman of Lowe’s Charitable and Education Foundation. “By supporting TeamWorks, Lowe’s is working to motivate and inspire future industry leaders and spark interest in careers where skilled workers are in demand.”
SkillsUSA Kentucky, a nonprofit organization, is a partnership that provides career and technical education students with quality experiences in leadership and skills development. Recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, SkillsUSA is cited by the U.S. Department of Labor as a “successful model of employer-driven youth development training program.”
According to Phillippi, approximately 5,600 secondary and postsecondary students are Kentucky SkillsUSA members. Each year, local and regional contests in occupational and leadership skill areas are held to create a pathway for statewide competition. State winners are eligible to compete at the national conference in Kansas City from June 23-27, 2008.
For more information about SkillsUSA, visit http://www.skillsusa.org/
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