PHCC Educational Foundation

SkillsUSA National Championships

SkilssUSA Competitors Receiving Instructions

SkillsUSA is national partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA provides educational programs, events and competitions that support career and technical education (CTE) in classrooms across the nation – including plumbing and HVAC competitions for high school and post-secondary students. PHCC members frequently are involved in running these state competitions.

The winners of Skills state level competitions gather annually for a national championship – over 16,000 competitors, instructors, industry representatives and volunteers. That’s where the PHCC Educational Foundation comes in. Each year, the members of the Foundation’s Plumbing Technical Committee setup, run and judge the SkillsUSA Plumbing Championship and assist with the HVAC competition.

The Foundation committee members assemble plumbing benches for about 50 competitors, and distribute pipe, fittings and other materials on each bench for the contestants to assemble. The contestants have about 8 hours over two days to run supply lines and rough-in a toilet, a sink, washer box and a floor drain. The committee members score the students’ work and provide guidance before the winners are announced on the last day of the event.

SkillsUSA SetupSkillsUSA BenchesCompetitors receiving instructions at SkillsUSA

SkillsUSA fits with our mission to enhance the growth and success of our industry workforce.SkillsUSA Competitor

Through SkillsUSA, the PHCC Educational Foundation is reminding these students, their parents and teachers that it is ok to get your hands dirty to make a living. Just seeing how BIG this event is and how much the volunteers, Foundation staff and sponsors invest in it can convince anyone that a career in the plumbing-heating-cooling industry is a smart choice.

While the SkillsUSA organization provides the venue, it is the PHCC Educational Foundation that funds the competition. Foundation staff and volunteers built the installation benches, and each year are responsible for sourcing the thousands of feet of pipe and all the materials and tools needed for the competition. Once everything is transported to Atlanta, our team handles all the setup and then judging the competition. Add to that getting 40+ young people (plus their families and instructors) organized and ready to compete – it is a LOT of work and expense.

You can help by making your annual contribution to the PHCC Educational Foundation and by volunteering to lend a hand with the contest. There is a lot of work onsite to setup for the event, plus months of planning and coordination that happens before the contest. Your help with any part of the process is appreciated.

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SkillsUSA Championships

SkillsUSA heads back to Atlanta, Ga., June 24-28, 2024, for the annual National Leadership and Skills Conference (NLSC), a showcase of career and technical education students. Thank you to our SkillsUSA Plumbing Committee and the industry organizations that make the plumbing competition possible: Cast Iron Soil Pipe Institute (CISPI), Copper Development Association (CDA), and Hohokus Trade School. And our special thanks to our 2024 headline sponsors!