Twenty-six students earned high marks at the state conference in April, with 16 students qualifying for the national championships in June.
Twenty-six Wayne State College students earned high marks with 16 of them qualifying for the SkillsUSA National Championships during the Nebraska SkillsUSA State Leadership Conference held April 10-12 in Grand Island.
Wayne State students won nine competitions, which earned them 16 gold medals, four silver, and four bronze. Wayne State’s national qualifiers will compete in SkillsUSA’s National Leadership and Skills Conference (NLSC) on June 23-27 in Atlanta.
SkillsUSA national qualifiers and their categories are:
Urban Search and Rescue
- Columbus, Neb. – Hailey Hoffman
- Norfolk, Neb. – John Mann
Chapter Display
- Pierson, Iowa – Brett Staab
- Dixon, Neb. – Joe Grone
- Syracuse, Neb. – Jackson Nordhues
Welding Sculpture
- Manning, Iowa – Quentin Dreyer
First Aid/CPR
- Schuyler, Neb. – Maddie Prochaska
Promotional Bulletin Board
- Utica, S.D. – Anna Hauck
- Springfield, Neb. – Jolene Trumble
Related Technical Math
- South Sioux City, Neb. – Xavier Pedroza
Advertising Design
Atlanta, Ga. – Roger Meraz
Engineering Technology
- Norfolk, Neb. – William Reynolds
- Omaha, Neb. – Noah St. Cyr
- Papillion, Neb. – Sienna Balwanz
Cyber Security
- Farramere Gauteng, South Africa – Michael Szigethy
- Columbus, Neb. – Brandon Berger
Students who placed at the state competition and their categories are:
Team Works – Third Place
- Ashland, Neb. – Matt Gill
- Broken Bow, Neb. – Nolan Johnson
- Craig, Neb. – Jon Dixon
- Tobias, Neb. – Micah Noel
Welding Sculpture – Second Place
- David City, Neb. – Hannah Woolsey
Crime Scene Investigation – Second Place
- Hebron, Neb. – Elle Sudbeck
- Hildreth, Neb. – Georgia Ramsey
- Valparaiso, Neb. – Miranda Strizek
Wayne State student Hailey Hoffman, president of SkillsUSA at Wayne State, said all the hard work and preparation by students has been rewarded.
“I’m really proud of what our chapter accomplished in Grand Island, and we’re looking forward to the national competition in Atlanta in June,” said Hoffman.
About SkillsUSA
SkillsUSA’s National Leadership & Skills Conference (NLSC) is the largest gathering of America’s future skilled workforce and the ultimate recognition of excellence in career and technical education. Held in Atlanta each June, the NLSC is a week-long celebration of the skilled trades and the accomplishments of career-ready leaders from across the United States. The event brings together more than 16,000 attendees, including students, instructors, industry partners, government officials, administrators and more, according to the SkillsUSA website.
The highlight of the NLSC is the SkillsUSA Championships, where more than 6,000 state champions compete for national gold, silver and bronze medals in 115 skilled and leadership competitions.
The SkillsUSA organization helps students develop personal skills such as integrity, work ethic, professionalism, responsibility, adaptability, flexibility, and self-motivation. Students involved also gain communication, decision making, teamwork, multicultural sensitivity and awareness, planning, organizing and management and leadership skills.