Assistance for Students to Demonstrate their Skills
Leesburg, Va. — SkillsUSA is pleased to announce that the mikeroweWORKS Foundation is increasing the number of scholarships for SkillsUSA member students to attend the National Leadership and Skills Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, June 22-26. The total amount available for scholarships will increase from $50,000 in prior years to $75,000 because of the very generous recent donation by DEWALT. The contribution by DEWALT is in addition to the other support already committed to the 2015 SkillsUSA competition. DEWALT has been a dedicated supporter of SkillsUSA for over 15 years.
This is the fifth consecutive year that the mikeroweWORKS Foundation, in partnership with SkillsUSA, has offered scholarships for SkillsUSA members who compete and place first in their state’s SkillsUSA Championships and who otherwise would not be able to attend the national SkillsUSA Championships for financial reasons. All SkillsUSA students who meet the financial criteria are welcome to apply.
“I love it when companies put their money where their mouth is,” said Mike Rowe. “When DEWALT learned in a recent meeting about the travel stipends we give to SkillsUSA, they made a $25,000 donation to my Foundation earmarked specifically to help additional qualified students compete. Some meetings are better than others.”
“This is an amazing increase in sponsorship from DEWALT for deserving SkillsUSA students,” said SkillsUSA’s Executive Director, Tim Lawrence. “Our students have been so grateful for the support they have received in the past from the mikeroweWORKS Foundation scholarship program. These students will be our nation’s future highly skilled technical workforce and they deserve every opportunity to showcase the skills that will contribute to a robust 21st century economy. We are very grateful that now even more students will be able to attend and demonstrate their skills because of this generosity. ”
The mikeroweWORKS Foundation scholarship program has provided assistance to eligible students who are pursuing an education in a vocational or similar trade-related program.
This year, the mikeroweWORKS Foundation has a priority focus on high school and college/postsecondary students who are working toward careers in manufacturing, construction, automotive, engineering and STEM-related trade occupations.
Scholarships will be awarded based on a student-written narrative describing the need for the scholarship, how the student has benefited through participation in SkillsUSA and why the student chose his or her particular trade or technical skill. Applicants are also required to provide a recommendation written by his or her SkillsUSA advisor or the state association director in support of the financial need. Applicants should apply online at: The mikeroweWORKS Foundation Competitor Scholarship. Applications must be received by Friday, May 29 (midnight ET).
Since 2011, the mikeroweWORKS Foundation has provided scholarship support to 170 SkillsUSA students, representing an investment of more than $170,000 in America’s future skilled workforce.
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About the mikeroweWORKS Foundation
As part of Mike Rowe’s “PR campaign for hard work and skilled labor,” the mikeroweWORKS Foundation was established to provide tool stipends, help fund scholarship programs and support other initiatives that reinvigorate trade school enrollments and industrial arts programs around the country. Recent highlights include: partnering with technical institutions across the country to award more than $3 million in educational scholarships; a new 2015 “Work Ethic” $400,000 Scholarship Program administered by Scholarship America; and, for the fifth year, granting $56,000 to the AED Foundation for 2015 tool scholarships. In addition to his Foundation, Rowe’s website, www.mikeroweWORKS.com, focuses on issues related to the widening skills gap, aging workforce, high unemployment and the millions of unfilled jobs. It also provides comprehensive resources for anyone looking to explore skilled vocations and strives to continue to focus the nation on the real dilemmas facing our trade workers, miners and farmers.
About DEWALT
DEWALT is a leading manufacturer of industrial power tools, hand tools and accessories, including corded and cordless drills, saws, hammers, grinders, routers, planers, plate joiners, sanders, lasers, generators, compressors, nailers, saw blades, metal and masonry drill bits, abrasives, screwdriving accessories and more. DEWALT tools can be found nationally and internationally, wherever tools are sold. With more than 1,000 factory-owned and authorized locations, DEWALT has one of the most extensive service and repair networks in North America. For more information, visit www.DEWALT.com.
About SkillsUSA
SkillsUSA (www.SkillsUSA.org) is a not-for-profit association that serves more than 300,000 member high school, college and postsecondary students — and their instructors — in trade, technical and skilled service instructional programs. SkillsUSA partners educators and students with business and industry to help ensure the United States has a well-prepared rising skilled workforce. SkillsUSA has the active support of more than 600 companies, trade associations and labor unions at the national level. Founded as the Vocational Industrial Clubs of America in 1965, its annual membership, totaled over 50 years, exceeds 11.9 million. SkillsUSA programs teach leadership, citizenship and character development to complement technical skill training. The organization emphasizes respect for the dignity of work, ethics, workmanship, scholarship and safety.