Davis Memorial Foundation announces recipients of SkillsUSA grants

The foundation continues to support vocational career paths through SkillsUSA grants. 

The Davis Memorial Foundation, a leading roofing industry foundation that is committed to promoting education, announced the 2025 recipients of the Davis SkillsUSA Grant: Valley Academy of Career and Technical Education in Cottonwood, Arizona, and MacArthur High School in Irving, Texas. Each school has been awarded a $2,500 grant to support student participation in SkillsUSA roofing competitions. 

The Davis SkillsUSA Grant was created to help remove financial barriers that limit student participation in hands-on trade competitions while introducing young people to rewarding, long-term careers in the roofing and construction industries. As the first roofing foundation to offer dedicated SkillsUSA grants, the Davis Memorial Foundation continues to lead the industry in workforce development initiatives. 

Valley Academy of Career and Technical Education, located in Cottonwood, Arizona, is a public charter school focused entirely on career-driven, hands-on education. While the school is not currently teaching a formal roofing curriculum, Valley Academy is highly engaged with SkillsUSA and has demonstrated strong interest in launching roofing education opportunities. The program benefits from active contractor support and industry relationships that are helping lay the groundwork for future roofing instruction. MacArthur High School in Irving, Texas offers comprehensive Career and Technical Education pathways that introduce students to construction fundamentals, jobsite safety and workforce readiness. The school has an active roofing curriculum and a well-established SkillsUSA program, making it a strong candidate for the Davis SkillsUSA Grant.  

Students supported by the Davis SkillsUSA Grant will have opportunities to participate in 2026 SkillsUSA regional and state competitions, which serve as qualifiers for national competitions. In California, regional leadership and skills contests will be held during the winter and early spring, with top competitors advancing to the California State Leadership & Skills Conference in Ontario, California in April 2026. Arizona students will compete in the Arizona SkillsUSA State Leadership & Skills Conference in Phoenix, where state champions will qualify for national competition. The culmination of the SkillsUSA competitive year is the 2026 National Leadership & Skills Conference, taking place in June 2026, where top students from across the country will compete on the national stage in more than 100 skilled and leadership event categories. 

By providing grant funding to vocational and CTE programs, the Davis Memorial Foundation enables schools to send their most talented students to local, regional, state and national SkillsUSA competitions. These experiences allow students to showcase commercial roofing skills, connect with industry professionals and gain valuable exposure to career opportunities. 

“This grant program is extremely important to the Trustees of the Davis Memorial Foundation and the membership of the Western States Roofing Contractors Association,” said Davis Memorial Foundation Chairman Chuck Chapman, president of Tecta America Arizona. “We believe supporting CTE programs and SkillsUSA competitors is critical to the future of roofing. These students represent the next generation of skilled professionals, and we are proud to help provide the funding that allows them to participate and succeed.” 

For more information about the Davis SkillsUSA Grant, eligibility requirements and the application process, please visit www.wsrca.com. 

About the Davis Memorial Foundation 

The Davis Memorial Foundation was established in honor of Larry and Mary Davis, who dedicated their lives to advancing education within the roofing industry. Tragically lost in a 1995 airplane accident, their legacy lives on through the foundation's commitment to fostering education and industry growth. The foundation continues to support future leaders by funding scholarships, grants and initiatives that promote career advancement in roofing and related trades. The Davis Memorial Foundation invites schools, industry professionals and supporters to participate in this transformative initiative to cultivate the next generation of roofing experts. Donations to the program are always encouraged.