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SkillsUSA Kansas students, advisers attend conference in Georgia; 15 students awarded national medals

Eighty-two students from the SkillsUSA Kansas delegation competed in skilled trades and leadership competitions at the annual SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Championships Conference from June 19-23 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Of those students, 22 received Skill Point Certificates, and 15 of those were awarded national medals representing the top three in the nation of their skillset.

A total of 160 students and advisers from SkillsUSA Kansas attended the conference.

SkillsUSA awards Skill Point Certificates to outstanding national contestants who demonstrate proficiency and workplace readiness in the student’s occupational specialty. The industry leaders who defined the competencies for each contest determined a cut score that indicates excellence for students in technical or leadership events.

Contestants who meet or exceed the scoring threshold earn a Skill Point Certificate. Students are encouraged to place the certificate in an employment portfolio as an indicator of proficiency.

Listed below are the students who earned their Skill Point Certificate during the conference:

  • Peyton Frazier, Shawnee Mission Northwest High School, cabinetmaking.
  • Tyler Henson, KCKCC Pioneer Career Center, carpentry.
  • Landon Schneider, Fort Scott Community College, carpentry.
  • Justin Franz, Newton High School, CNC 3-Axis milling programmer.
  • Joseph Holthaus, Washburn Tech, collision repair technology.
  • Chardea Dick, Washburn Tech, collision repair technology.
  • Dylan Cox, WSU Tech, criminal justice.
  • Gabe Jones, WSU Tech, crime science investigation.
  • Lillian Tallant, WSU Tech, crime scene investigation.
  • Haleigh Weber, WSU Tech, crime scene investigation.
  • Jewell Finley, Center for Academic Achievement, culinary arts.
  • Justin Webb, Kansas City Kansas Community College Technical Center, culinary arts.
  • Zayne Sommers, Washburn Tech, early childhood education.
  • Keaton Henning, Highland Community College Technical Center, electrical construction wiring.
  • Cameron Fehrenbacher, Olathe Advanced Technical Center, electronics technology.
  • Caelan Templeton, Labette County High School, Internet of Things and SMART Homes.
  • Kelly Del-Zio, Washburn Tech, job skill demonstration.
  • Flor Molina, Kansas City Kansas Community College Technical Center, nail care.
  • Adriana Valdez, Northwest Kansas Technical College, pin design.
  • Elsie Smith, Washburn Tech, restaurant services.
  • Cole Parsons, Manhattan High School, technical drafting.
  • Alejandro Rojas, Northwest Kansas Technical College, t-shirt design.


SkillsUSA awards medallions – gold, silver and bronze – to outstanding national contestants who demonstrate the skills needed in the workplace. The standards of each competition require following the technical skills and knowledge required, clothing requirement and embedded academic skills in math, English and science for each competition.

Most of these competitions are three-day events, with orientation, written assessments and station set-ups on the first day. There is a full day of competition on the second day, and the final competition takes place on the third day, ending at 4 p.m. That is followed by a debrief session. Some contests offer a fourth day that includes workshops led by industry experts.

SkillsUSA hosts all 50 states and three territories with only state gold medalists advancing onto the national level of competition, which represent the nation’s top finest in skill and leadership trades.

Kansas students receiving medals are:

  • Gold medalist: Kyle Cameron, Hutchinson Career Technical Education Academy, commercial roofing.
  • Gold medalist: Jewell Finley, Center for Academic Achievement, culinary arts.
  • Silver medalist: Manissa Boyce, Washburn Tech, Quiz Bowl.
  • Silver medalist: Zevin Para-Cremer, Washburn Tech, Quiz Bowl.
  • Silver medalist: Britany Puff, Washburn Tech, Quiz Bowl.
  • Silver medalist: Ethan Stookey, Washburn Tech, Quiz Bowl.
  • Silver medalist: Corey York, Washburn Tech, Quiz Bowl.
  • Silver medalist: Taylor Zwygart, Washburn Tech, Quiz Bowl.
  • Silver medalist: Brayden Doughman, North Central Kansas Technical College, welding fabrication.
  • Silver medalist: Hunter Teasley, North Central Kansas Technical College, welding fabrication.
  • Silver medalist: Josh Uhland, North Central Kansas Technical College, welding fabrication.
  • Bronze medalist: Landon Schneider, Fort Scot Community College, carpentry.
  • Bronze medalist: Caden Starr, Washburn Tech, collision damage appraisal.
  • Bronze medalist: Kenli Shaw, Northwest Kansas Technical College, web design and development.
  • Bronze medalist: Michael Vars, Northwest Kansas Technical College, web design and development.


Besides the top three medalists, SkillsUSA also recognizes students who ranked in the top 10 placement.

Kansas students placing fourth in the nation are:

  • Tyler Henson, KCKCC Pioneer Career Center,
  • Gabe Jones, WSU Tech, crime scene investigation.
  • Lillian Tallant, WSU Tech, crime scene investigation.
  • Haleigh Weber, WSU Tech, crime scene investigation.


Kansas students placing fifth in the nation are:

  • Peyton Frazier, Shawnee Mission Northwest High School, cabinetmaking.
  • Carlos Molina, WSU Tech, CNC 5-Axis milling programmer.
  • Chardae Dick, Washburn Tech, collision repair technology.
  • Flor Molina, Kansas City Kansas Community College Technical Center, nail care.


Kansas students placing sixth in the nation are:

  • Julia Zinke, Flint Hills Technical College, baking and pastry arts.
  • Caelan Templeton, Labette County High School, Internet of Things and SMART Homes.


Kansas students placing seventh in the nation are:

  • Cameron Fehrenbacher, Olathe Advanced Technical Center, electronics technology.
  • Kelly Dei-Zio, Washburn Tech, job skills demonstration.
  • Kiah Wall, Washburn Tech, medical terminology.
  • Adriana Valdez, Northwest Kansas Technical College, pin design.


Kansas students placing eighth in the nation are:

  • Bryson Locke, WSU Tech, aviation maintenance technology.
  • Joseph Holthaus, Washburn Tech, collision repair technology.


Kansas students placing ninth in the nation are:

  • Travis Eicher, WSU Tech, aviation maintenance technology.
  • William Sevy, Washburn Tech, internetworking.
  • Ashton Wood, Washburn Tech, mechatronics.
  • Michael Zecha, Washburn Tech, mechatronics.
  • Damian Ramos, Northwest Kansas Technical College, teamworks.
  • Zane Rankin, Northwest Kansas Technical College, teamworks.
  • Dane Shores, Northwest Technical College, teamworks.
  • Ty Wilson, Northwest Technical College, teamworks.


Alejandro Rojas, Northwest Technical College, placed 10th in the nation in t-shirt design.

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Posted: Jul 20, 2023,
Comments: 0,
Author: Ann Bush

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