SkillsUSA Students Shine at Statewide Competition

A record 28 of the 33 Hancock students who participated in this year’s competition earned medals. That includes 17 students who took home gold medals in a diverse range of competitions, including architectural drafting, computer programming, web design, crime scene investigation, welding and more. 

“Our SkillsUSA team showcases how Hancock students can take the skills they learn at the college and apply them outside the classroom,” said Hancock Superintendent/President Kevin G. Walthers, Ph.D. “Hancock is proud of these students who worked hard with their faculty advisors to prepare for this competition.” 

The gold medal winners will move on to compete in the SkillsUSA National Competition in Atlanta, Georgia, in June. 

SkillsUSA is a national organization created to teach students the technical skills required for employment in career technical educational fields, as well as the soft skills required in any modern workplace. The organization is a partnership of students, teachers, and industry representatives that work together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. The organization holds competitions annually to recognize the achievements of career and technical education students and to encourage them to strive for excellence. 

To learn more about Hancock’s SkillsUSA program, visit https://www.hancockcollege.edu/careers/cte_counselors.php.  

List of AHC SkillsUSA 2024 Medal Winners:

• Architectural Drafting – Jet Wu (Gold) & Hailey Salas (Silver)
• Automotive Service Technology – Gerardo Arroyo (Gold)
• Baking & Pastry – Natalia Victorino (Silver) & Kadance Estes (Bronze)
• CNC 2 Axis Milling Programmer – Mercedes Valdez (Gold) & Jordan Servin-Paz (Silver)
• CNC 3 Axis Milling Programmer – Jose Ortiz (Gold)
• Computer Programming – Jovany Cardenas (Gold)
• Crime Scene Investigation – Emmanuel Jimenez & Steven Lerena (Gold)
• Criminal Justice – Angel Ayala (Gold) & Angela Ruiz (Silver)
• Culinary Arts – Bradley Brookes (Bronze)
• Cybersecurity – Bryan Morales & Tristen Cardenas (Gold)
• Early Childhood Education – Valeria Morales (Bronze)
• Extemporaneous Speaking – Brooke Brenneman (Gold) & Emily Arellano (Silver)
• Internetworking – Jesus Gonzalez (Gold), Edwin Barcenas (Silver) & Maria Benigno (Bronze)
• Job Skills Demo A/Open – Madeline Dungan (Silver)
• Prepared Speech – Eden Hall (Gold)
• Web Design – Edgar Olozagaste & Emelie Bishop (Gold)
• Welding – Steven Salazar (Gold)
• Welding Sculpture – Tiffany Flanagan (Gold)