Laurent Thibault, WorldSkills International Board member, addresses the crowd at the SkillsUSA Ribbon Cutting Ceremony as Tim Lawrence, SkillsUSA Executive Director, looks on.

By WorldSkills International

The 2009 SkillsUSA National Leadership Conference and Championships was the largest in its 45 year history. More than 5,000 contestants competed in 91 contests at venues across Kansas City, Missouri, one of which is larger than 15 American football fields long. The SkillsUSA Championships is the national-level competition for secondary and postsecondary technical students enrolled in trade, technical, and skilled service profession, instructional programs and health occupations. All of the SkillsUSA Championships competitors are gold medal winners at the State level.