Celebrating Student Achievements and Excellence

SkillsUSA is one of thousands of certifying organizations that participate in the national PVSA program, which is administered by Americorps and Point of Light Foundation. SkillsUSA can only process applications of students who enrolled in a SkillsUSA classroom as part of a CTE class at their middle school, high school, or college. The information on this webpage is for SkillsUSA students, advisors, and state directors only. Only the applications of registered, active SkillsUSA students will be processed by SkillsUSA.

If you are a volunteer, but you do not belong to a SkillsUSA chapter as part of your middle school, high school, or college, visit the official PVSA website for more information: https://presidentialserviceawards.gov.

The Presidential Volunteer Service Award
The Presidential Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) is a national honor offered in recognition of sustained volunteer service. As a certifying organization of the PVSA, SkillsUSA members may apply to receive the PVSA through the SkillsUSA national office for volunteer hours served over a 12-month period. Recipients receive:

• an official lapel pin reflecting the Bronze, Silver, or Gold service level.
• a personalized certificate of achievement.
• a congratulatory letter from the President of the United States.

PVSA recipients frequently include this honor on their resume and on college, scholarship, and job applications!

Award Levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold

Active SkillsUSA members (students) can apply to receive a PVSA individual award. SkillsUSA Chapters may use their collective volunteer hours to apply to receive the PVSA team award. Award levels are determined by two criteria:

1. The number of hours served
2. Student’s reported age as detailed in the chart below.
   Note: SkillsUSA Chapter award levels are determined via the “Families / Groups / Teams” criteria in the chart below.

Awards Levels – Service Benchmark

* The age category is determined by the age the student was for at least 7 months within the calendar year. For example, if the student was 16 for seven (7) months within the year in question, that person would qualify within the 16-25 age group.  

Application:
The application deadline for the 2023-2024 year is March 31, 2024 at 11:59 PM EST. Faxed, mailed, and emailed entries will not be processed. Verified volunteer-service hours must occur in a consecutive 12-month period between January 1, 2023 and March 31, 2024.

Required Application Criteria:

• Applications must be complete and include all required documentation in a legible format.
• All applications must include proof of current SkillsUSA membership. Acceptable documents include a SkillsUSA membership card(s) or the student(s) name(s) indicated on the SkillsUSA Chapter Roster.
• All applications must include a volunteer service log (individual award) or timesheet (chapter award) that details:
  • Each date the applicant performed volunteer service, including location of service.
  • The total number of hours for each date of volunteer service.
  • No more than fifty (50) volunteers may contribute hours towards a chapter award.
• The application requires a letter from each organization that appears on the applicant’s service log or time sheet that verifies the applicant’s volunteer service. The letter must:
  • Be typed on the organization’s letterhead.
  • Name the applicant.
  • Include the applicant’s term of service and total hours contributed to the organization.
  • Be signed by a representative of the organization for which volunteer service was performed.
    Example: “This letter is to certify that ____________ performed ___ hours of service for Organization Name between the dates of ______ and _______.”
• The application (both individuals and chapters) must include a Letter of Nomination from a SkillsUSA advisor, instructor, or SkillsUSA state director on organizational letterhead that affirms the student-applicant has performed the necessary volunteer hours to be considered for the PVSA.

Rules:

• Ineligible volunteer hours include hours spent meeting, driving, sleeping, or off-duty.
• In accordance with AmeriCorps® and the Point of Light Foundation, ineligible service includes donating funds, political lobbying, religious instruction, conducting a worship service, proselytizing, court-ordered community service, service of only family members.
• An applicant’s volunteer hours must be applied to an individual award OR a chapter award, but not both.
• Hours served fulfilling responsibilities as a SkillsUSA local, state, or national officer are not to be included as service hours towards the PVSA.
• SkillsUSA is both ethically and legally bound to honor the service hour and award levels as set forth by the PVSA.
• Missing data (example: claimed volunteer hours not reflected on time sheet) or unverified data (example: nomination or verification letter on non-letterhead) may result in rejection of the application, or receipt of the PVSA at a lower award level. Only service hours that are appropriately documented and verified will be counted. Before submitting the application, ensure that all data is correct, fully documented, and verified.

If you have questions:

SkillsUSA members, advisors and state directors:
Contact Marcia Strickland at mstrickland@skillsusa.org

All others interested in the PVSA should visit the PVSA website at: https://presidentialserviceawards.gov/.

2023-24 Recipients

The following people have qualified to receive the President’s Service Award in 2023-24:

ARIZONA

Gold Recipients

• Valley Academy for Career and Technology Education – Law Enforcement and Public Safety Program – Chapter Award
• Desert Star Academy Graphic Communications – Chapter Award
• Valley Academy for Career and Technology Education (Bldg Trades & Renovations) – Chapter Award 

CALIFORNIA

Gold Recipients

• Dinuba High School – Chapter Award

Bronze Recipients

• Kathy Truong, Donald Jordan Intermediate School

FLORIDA

Gold Recipients

• Madison Kauska, Leesburg High School

GEORGIA (COLLEGE/POSTSECONDARY)

Gold Recipients

• Gwinnett Technical College – Give Back Group – Chapter Award
• Gwinnett Technical College – Kindness Crew – Chapter Award
• Gwinnett Technical College – Service Squad – Chapter Award

Silver Recipients

• Kayden Cash, Gwinnett Technical College SkillsUSA Club

 MASSACHUSETTS

Gold Recipients

• Akram Mchiti, Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School
• Thomas Marshall, Greater Lowell Technical High School
• Lynn Vocational Technical Institute – Chapter Award
• Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School – Chapter Award

Silver Recipients

• Natalie DeLano, Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School
• Dayna Mbugua, Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School
• Alondra Nieves, Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical Academy
• Matthew Kelly, J.P. Keefe Technical High School
• Kallie Allen, Blackstone Valley Vocational Technical High School

Bronze Recipients

• Emma Shaker, Diman Regional Vocational Technical School
• Julian Cardoso, Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School
• Kayla Matheiu, Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School
• Jordan Melo, Greater New Bedford RVTHS
• Alaney Murphy, Taunton High School

MINNESOTA

Bronze Recipients

• Emily Luo, Mounds View SkillsUSA

NORTH CAROLINA

Gold Recipients

• Luke Frassel, Jack Britt High School

NEW JERSEY

Gold Recipients

• Lily Boguslavsky, Somerset County Academy for Health and Medical Sciences
• Jennifer Levy, Gloucester County Institute of Technology
• Malavika Malanthara, Somerset County Academy for Health and Medical Sciences
• Sree Isukapalli, Somerset County Academy for Health and Medical Sciences
• Vaanya Salwan, Somerset County Academy for Health and Medical Sciences
• Jessy Dong, Somerset County Academy for Health and Medical Sciences
• Desiree Okonkwo, Hudson County School of Technology
• Dominic Mercado, Cumberland County Technical Education Center

Silver Recipients

• Max Chen, Somerset County Academy for Health and Medical Sciences

Bronze Recipients

• Kavya Shah, Somerset County Academy for Health and Medical Sciences
• Victoria Okonkwo, Hudson County School of Technology

NEVADA

Gold Recipients

• Green Valley High School – Chapter Award

NEW YORK (HIGH SCHOOL)

Gold Recipients

• Aviation Career & Technical Education High School – Chapter Award
• Thomas A Edison Career & Technical High School – Chapter Award
• Mikeal Hawkins, Oneida Herkimer Madison BOCES
• Ulster BOCES – Chapter Award

Silver Recipients

• Maggie O’Donnell, Oneida Herkimer Madison BOCES

Bronze Recipients

• Jocelyn Colon, Nassau BOCES GC Tech

OHIO

Gold Recipients

• Jack Adkins, Auburn Career Center
• Ryan Nelson, Auburn Career Center

OKLAHOMA

Gold Recipients

• Gavin Gabel, Tulsa Tech High School Extension Programs

RHODE ISLAND

Bronze Recipients

• Caitlin Lozeau, Burrillville High School

TENNESSEE (COLLEGE/POSTSECONDARY)

Gold Recipients

• Tennessee College of Applied Technology Northwest – Building Construction Technology Program – Chapter Award

TEXAS (HIGH SCHOOL)

Gold Recipients

• Grand Prairie High School – Chapter Award
• Maribel Rodriguez, Grand Prairie High School

Bronze Recipients

• Hannah Thomas, Wylie High School SkillsUSA

WEST VIRGINIA

Gold Recipients

• Jamie Bero, Putnam Career & Technical Center