Building the Future, One Skill at a Time: SkillsUSA NLSC Center of Attention

Every summer since 2021, SkillsUSA’s National Leadership & Skills Conference has brought thousands of students, educators, and industry leaders from across the country to the Georgia World Congress Center. 

With this year’s conference drawing over 19,000 attendees, it is a celebration of career and technical education – and a chance for students to showcase what they have learned through hands-on competitions, industry networking, and leadership development. 

“The competition is fierce — to make it here, students have to win at their local and state levels,” said Courtney Ferrell, SkillsUSA’s Director of Conference, Meeting, and Event Management. “But once they arrive in Atlanta, it becomes even more intense as they go up against top winners from across the country.” 

Three students from McIntosh County Academy in Darien, GA, competed in the Career Pathways Showcase focused on commercial fisheries — a natural fit for their coastal community. “Our advisor is a third-generation fisherman,” a senior student said. “He introduced us to the competition in ninth grade, and we’ve loved it ever since.” 

Beyond showcasing technical knowledge, the students emphasized the real-world skills they’ve gained. “We had to do a lot on our own: lead a project, meet deadlines, talk to industry professionals. It’s helped me build confidence and leadership, which I’ll take with me into my college career,” said another. 

And it’s not just about competition. One of the most beloved traditions of the SkillsUSA National Conference is the intense pin trading that happens throughout the week. Attendees from all over the country swap state pins as a way to build connections and continue the competition. 

“One of the key things that’s like an unofficial conference experience is our pin trading,” said Ferrell. “It’s a cool opportunity for folks to use it as a tool to network and meet people from across the country. The goal is to collect a pin from each of the different state associations.” 

The students from McIntosh County Academy echoed that enthusiasm: “Every one of these pins is someone from one of those states we’ve met,” one shared. “It’s just cool to talk to people you’d never meet otherwise.” 

For Ferrell, who was once a SkillsUSA student herself, that’s the heart of the event: “We want them to build skills, build experiences, and celebrate not only the work they do here, but everything they’ve done to get here. It’s about shaping the next generation of skilled workers.” 

Learn more about SkillsUSA NLSC on GWCCA’s podcast, The Authoricast, here.