The ten students qualifying for nationals by earning a gold medal were: Mark Louie Francisco for Restaurant Service; Jenelle King for Job Skill Demonstration; Marell Charley for Extemporaneous Speech; Linda Todicheeney for Early Childhood Education; Walter Francis, Darian Edsitty, Kalem Vandever, and Nillson Wood for Teamworks; and the team of Shane Tsosie and Adriane Tenequer for Additive Manufacturing.

Earning silver medals for NTU included: Dexter Dale for Culinary Arts; Mikalya Sam for Restaurant Service; Kevin Harding for Baking; Sheila Begay for Job Skill Demonstration; Nicole Shult for Prepared Speech; Eric Holiday for Job Interview; Marcie Vandever and Eric Bailey for Additive Manufacturing; and the team of Wyatt Tsosie, Derrick Chavez, and Santiago Benny for Welding Fabrication. Silver medalists serve as alternates for the national conference and can fill in for a gold medalist under certain circumstances, such as a competitor not being able to compete.

NTU received four bronze medals at the state competition as well. Construction Technology major Cyrus Coan placed 3rd in cabinetmaking, while Culinary Arts major Shawn Curley placed 3rd in two categories, Baking and Job Skill Demonstration. Aaron John also received a bronze medal in the Job Interview category.

SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. More than 360,000 students and instructors participate in SkillsUSA nation-wide at both secondary and post-secondary schools. In addition to events and competitions, SkillsUSA provides educational programs that support career and technical education in the classroom.

For more information about NTU’s participation in SkillsUSA, please contact Julie Bales at jbales@navajotech.edu.