Who is this trip for?

The top active PLSHS SkillsUSA members.  Members who are prepared to test their technical skills against students from across the state in competition.  Members who want to experience what SkillsUSA is really about.

When

CONFERENCE DATES  April 10 – 12, 2025

DEPART before 4:00 PM Wednesday, April 9, 2025

RETURN TO PLSHS  Saturday hopefully between 1:30 and 2:30PM in rear near the east shop doors

Where

CONFERENCE LOCATION  Grand Island Heartland Events Center & Fonner Park.  700 E Stolley Park Rd, Grand Island, NE 68801

SPECTATING  is free on Friday during the competition.  We recommend watching from 9am-noon. 2025 Schedule

HOTEL  Boarders Inn & Suites.  3333 Ramada Rd, Grand Island, NE 68801.  Phone (308) 384-5150

• 100+ COMPETITIONS in: Architecture & Construction, Arts, Audio/Video Technology, Business Management & Administration, Education, Health Science, Public Safety, Hospitality & Tourism, Leadership, Manufacturing, Science, Technology, Engineering & Math, Information Technology, Transportation & more!

• ABOUT SKILLSUSA SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. The organization serves middle school, high school and college students in programs preparing them for technical, skilled and service careers.

• AGENDA SLSC is a 3 day event: opening is Thursday with some competitions, Friday is the main event, and Saturday is an award ceremony. Visit the State website for more information.

• AWARDS (Medals) are awarded to the top three places for each competition at the closing ceremony.  Some students will be rewarded scholarships and tools.

• BUDDY SYSTEM The buddy system is required at all times except during your competition.  You must notify your advisor If you are going someplace other than your competition (e.g. restaurants, stores, gas stations, etc.)  We prefer you post your plan to the group chat so others can join you.  Students will not always be directly with an adult supervisor due to the format of the conference.  Students are expected to only be at approved conference related locations.  You should not visit other guest rooms outside our hotel.  Use common areas for socialization.

• CEREMONY CLOTHING Our chapter wants you to be dressed in formal Official SkillsUSA dress at both the opening and closing ceremony: white button collared shirt, black pants or skirt, black tie, and black shoes.  A blazer is optional and depends on our inventory. Technically alternate professional attire is also acceptable.  

• CODE OF CONDUCT Parents may be requested to pick up their child if they break the law, SLSC Code of Conduct, PLS Handbook policy, or chapter guidelines during the conference.

• CONTEST CLOTHING For state this is not the clothing listed in the National Standards.  Visit the State website for the contest dress requirements.  Most students will need to wear Official SkillsUSA Dress (blazer is optional) or the conference T-shirt, jeans, and appropriate work shoes/boots.

• DAMAGE to the hotel or other property is the responsibility of the occupants or person involved.

• DRESS CODE should be school appropriate at all times.

• DRIVE TIME  is about a 2 hour drive.

• DRUGS, NICOTINE, ALCOHOL & WEAPONS  are not allowed.

• ELIGIBILITY Currently there are no official regional competitions or qualifying events for SkillsUSA NE State (SLSC).  Eligibility is open for any active PLSHS SkillsUSA member based on available transportation slots and chapter membership history.  Eligibility for specific comptitions is a collaborative process between the contestant and the advisor.  The advisor has the ability to adjust a competition request based on safety or skill level.

• HANGING OUT Use respectful volumes and conversation topics in all public spaces. Do not enter or remain in the sleeping room of the opposite sex unless the door is completely open at all times. 

• MEALS will require money.  Boards Inn & Suites has provided free breakfast in the past.  There is a lunch provided at the competition on Friday.

• ILLEGAL ACTIVITY can result in police notification.

• INSURANCE CARD should be on you during the competition.

• ISSUES with safety or behavior at the conference should be communicated to the advisors in person or through the chapter's communication tool.  Do not ignore problems.

• PACKING LIST is provided here.

• PDA (Personal Displays of Affection) are not permitted at any time during the SLSC conference trip. 

• POOL availability at the hotel is not controllable, the pool has no lifeguard, and is used at your own risk.  Tell your son/daughter if you want them to not use the pool. Advisors can not be held responsible for pool use due to the conference schedule.

• QUIET TIME After 9PM: Hallways should remain clear.  Use respectful conversation volumes in rooms and common areas.  After 11PM (or as announced) you must be in your own personal room.  Noise complaints will be shared with parents.  Issues may require the student to be picked up early.

• REWARDS Top students earn prizes and scholarships from community colleges, businesses and industry.

• SCORES can be looked up online.  There isn't a set timeline for them to be updated. You will need your Contestant Number and Date of Birth.

• SPECTATING  Friday’s Championship viewing is free and open to the public. Best time to watch is 9:00 AM till noon.  Most events start at 8AM.  Events end at different times.  Not all competitions are open to the public.  Competitions are spread across multiple buildings. 

• SPONSORS We thank sponsors to help our club with yearly expenses, consumables, keeping the price lower and completely cover supervision plus a club meal at the conference. We are always looking for sponsors so please let us know if you are interested. Visit bit.ly/plshsSkillsSupport

• SAFETY is our number one priority.  We do our best to follow all policies and procedures.  Special trip logistic and legally related questions must be processed through the Athletic Director’s office.

• STATE ONLY (SO) contests do not qualify you for the National Leadership and Skills Conference.

• TECHNICAL STANDARDS are what SkillsUSA Nationals use to guide their competitions at the National Conference.  SkillsUSA Nebraska's contest coordinators base their competition off of these standards.  The contests are simplified so you will not be doing everything that is in the National Standards.  Contest coordinators will post information on the Nebraska website.  The posts are not always up-to-date`.  You should ready for anything, flexible, and understanding of how hard it is to run this type of event as a volunteer.

• TRANSPORT COMPANY SERVICES can not be requested and used by students. E.g. Uber

• TRANSPORTATION, STUDENT PROVIDED is not permitted. You should not attend if you can’t travel with the club.  Students should not transport each other outside the metropolitan area.  Parents may transport their own children.  All transportation questions should be sent to the activities office.

First-place winners have the opportunity to compete in the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference (NLSC) in June.  

Participation is not required.

We have additional information in the SkillsUSA Nationals Conference (NLSC) Family Letter.

• READ AND SHARE our SkillsUSA NEBRASKA State Leadership and Skills Championship Family Letter with your parents.  They should explore this website and the FAQ list. 

• STUDY the SkillsUSA NE SLSC website which has the tentative schedule, link to competitions, dress requirements, and most of what you need to know.

• DECIDE on a main competition by looking over the list with descriptions.  There is a full list of all the competitions on the NE State website.  Work with the officers and advisors.  What Contests Should I Pick for SLC - by Sienna 2022

• CHECK EVERY WEEK the NE Contest Updates as you prepare.  This is information that the judges publish for the contestants. This will include tool lists and items you need to have done.

• REVIEW the Technical Standards.  This is what national level contestants must do.  State is scaled down.  State also has a different dress code.

• FILL OUT our SkillsUSA State Leadership and Skills Championship (SLSC) Registration and Contest Application and PAY for the trip.

• RESUME should be written and copied.  We have resources to help you create one or use tools like resume.io

• PACK in advance.  Using our SLSC Packing List as a guide.

• PREVIEW our SkillsUSA Nationals Conference (NLSC) Family Letter which will let you know location, dates, and estimated costs at this time.  The official NLSC site has some of the main details. 

• SCORES can be viewed online.

Opening & Closing Ceremonies

• We expect Official SkillsUSA Dress (OSD) as a member of the PLSHS SkillsUSA chapter.

• Red blazers are NOT required.

• During the ceremonies there are no hats, headphones, casual phone use, or loud side conversations. 

Competition Dress

• Most require the SLSC t-shirt, jeans & work appropriate shoes.

• Leadership contests may require OSD and the blazer is optional.

• A clothing list is on the Nebraska site.

Nationals OSD Description for CLASS A: SKILLSUSA ATTIRE 

Copied from the https://www.skillsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/SkillsUSA-Championships-General-Regulations-2023-24.pdf 

• Official SkillsUSA red blazer or official SkillsUSA red jacket (at the state level the blazer is optional)

• Button-up, collared, white dress shirt (accompanied by a plain, solid black tie or SkillsUSA black tie), white shirt (collarless or small-collared) or white turtleneck, with any collar not to extend into the lapel area of the blazer, sweater, windbreaker, or jacket 

• Black dress slacks or black dress skirt (knee-length at minimum) 

• Black closed-toe dress shoes 

• Note: Wearing socks or hose is no longer required. If worn, socks 

The typical themes for each of the main buildings are:

• HEARTLAND EVENTS CENTER ceremonies, information center, leadership style contests, and orientation meetings. 

• PINNACLE BANK EXPO CENTER the quieter hands on  skill competitions. 

• SHEEP BARN the louder hands on skill competitions.

• FIVE POINTS BANK ARENA the large space competitions like large diesel and drone flights.

• Other locations that are often used include: CCC GI, CCC Hastings, Fire Station #1, Island Indoor Climate, and Levander's Auto but every year varies.

• Visit any building for more details from the staff helpers

• Typically there is a Sched event agenda that you can access via signs with QR codes in the buildings.

Share this page with others via the QR Code or this link https://sites.google.com/plcschools.org/plshsskillsusa/state 

Future ideas for additions to this page:

• Competition selection guidance presentation

• Resume help

Email Mr. Stribley your ideas. This page is for you.