2025–2026 SkillsUSA Massachusetts Advisors’ Handbook Chapter 4: SkillsUSA Massachusetts Programs • 76 Massachusetts Volunteer Service Award Massachusetts Volunteer Service Award SkillsUSA is one of thousands of certifying organizations that participate in the national Presidential Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) program, which is administered by Ameri- corps 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 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. PVSA recipients frequently include this honor on their resume and on college, scholar- ship, and job applications! Award Levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold In place of the Presidential Volunteer Service Award, Massa- chusetts SkillsUSA would be honored to recognize the volun- teer efforts of our members. Individual SkillsUSA members can apply to receive the Massachusetts Volunteer Service Award. SkillsUSA Chapters may use their collective volun- teer hours to apply to receive the MVSA team award. Award levels are determined by the number of hours served. Bronze: Between 100 - 174 Hours Silver: Between 175 - 249 Hours Gold: 250 Hours or More Application: The application deadline for the 2025-2026 year is March 31, March 31, 2026 at 11:59 PM EST 2026 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, 2025 and March 31, 2026. 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 (indi- vidual 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 represen- tative of the organiza- tion 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 chap- ters) must include a Letter of Nomination from a SkillsUSA advisor or instructor on organizational letterhead that affirms the student-applicant has performed the necessary volun- teer hours to be considered for the MVSA. Rules: Ineligible volunteer hours include hours spent meeting, driving, sleeping, or off-duty. 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 MVSA. To align with the Presidential Volunteer Service Award, SkillsUSA Massachusetts will 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 MVSA at a lower award level. Only service hours that are appropriately documented and verified will be counted. Before submitting the appli- cation, ensure that all data is correct, fully documented, and verified. Submit Your Documentation The documentation must be submitted in a digital format, The documentation must be submitted in a digital format, by emailing a complete PDF file. by emailing a complete PDF file. The first page(s) of the PDF file must be the official submission form with all informa- tion complete. All following pages are for the actual contest items, that would have been in the binder. The deadline for submission is April 1 The deadline for submission is April 1. All entries received on or before that date will be considered for community service excellence awards to be presented at the State Lead- ership and Skills Conference Award Ceremony. Please email the PDF file, including the submission form to: Email: [email protected] Subject: Massachusetts Volunteer Service Awards
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