During Marsha Daves’ SkillsUSA career she filled many roles, including: first recipient of the Marsha Daves Lifetime Achievement Award, SkillsUSA Board of Director member, Chair of the State of Oklahoma Director’s Association, recipient of the Honorary Life Award, and her final role as Director of Education and Training with the national SkillsUSA staff. To the students and colleagues that were able to work with Marsha, her role was truly an educator, advisor, and mentor.
SkillsUSA is pleased to be offering one annual merit-based $1,500 scholarship for college/postsecondary education to a state officer in memory of the legacy left by our champion Marsha Daves. The scholarship will recognize how SkillsUSA student leaders are empowered by the skills they have gained through their association with SkillsUSA to fulfill the mission of becoming world-class workers, leaders, and responsible American citizens.
The Marsha Daves’ scholarship will be open to current SkillsUSA state officers in ALL regions who are high school seniors or non-senior college/postsecondary students.
Scholarship applicants will need to fill out the information sheet below and submit a video application. The video should reflect the leadership qualities the student has gained from a SkillsUSA mentor (their advisor, state director, etc.) and how they have used those skills to be a leader in SkillsUSA, other organizations, their community, and/or the workplace. The videos will be judged on the following criteria:
- Acknowledgement of a SkillsUSA mentor’s impact on their lives.
- Specific leadership-level skills they have gained:
- Personal: Integrity, Work Ethic, Professionalism, Responsibility, Adaptability/Flexibility, Self-Motivation.
- Workplace: Communication, Decision Making, Teamwork, Multicultural Sensitivity and Awareness, Planning, Organizing and Management.
- Examples of situations in which they have put their leadership skills to use during their time as a state officer and the how they used those opportunities to “pay it forward.”
- Composition of their video including professionalism and creativity.
- Upon being awarded the scholarship, confirmation the applicant is attending a college/postsecondary school during next school year will be required.
Videos are limited to one to two minutes in length. Creative editing is encouraged, and a professional presentation is expected.
A judging committee will review the nominations and announce the selected winner. An award check for $1,500 will be made payable directly to the college/postsecondary school. The state director’s office will be notified by February 10th in order to present and recognize the student during their State Leadership and Skills Conference.
All video applications must be submitted after the applicant’s information sheet with their state director’s signature of nomination and a letter of recommendation from their SkillsUSA mentor, such as an instructor, advisor or state association director. Applications must be received by February 1. If you have questions, please contact Megan Flinn at mflinn@skillsusa.org.
Download the scholarship disclosure form. This is required for your application.
Apply online today.
