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Catawba Valley Community College students recently shone at the Skills USA State Conference.

Held last month in Greensboro, Skills USA is a national competition involving the skilled and technical education programs of middle, high school and college/post-secondary education institutions. Throughout the school year, CVCC’s Skills USA Chapter provides students with the advising and resources they need to hone their skills and prepare for the event.

The CVCC team won a total of 49 medals: 18 gold, 14 silver, eight bronze and nine additional medals.

Gold medalists included Barrett Rhoney (Electrical Construction Wiring); Riley Land, Dhyan Patel, Phiona Patel, and Charlotte Zimmerman (Entrepreneurship); Tara Rockette (Hair Coloring); Joseph Fullen (Internet of Things); Piper Strong (Job Skill Demonstration–Open); Jadon Spencer (Marine Service Technology); Christopher Galan-Duran (Medical Math); Riley Matheson (Natural Hair Design & Braids); Lydia Owens (Photography); Suzanna Smart (Pin Design); Xavier Springs (Prepared Speech); Jessica Frierson, Jennifer Schumacher, and Gracie Zazzi (Promotional Bulletin Board); Jacob Ashley and Jagger Ziedel (Robotics: Urban Search & Rescue); Rylan Johnson and Jacky Lam (High School—Robotics: Urban Search & Rescue); Ella Ikerd (Screen Printing); and Stella Hughes (T-Shirt Design).

Silver medalists included Cristian Cantera and Cecily Houck (Cyber Security); Sage Fields and Noah Miller (Debate); Brayden Shook (Electrical Construction Wiring); Nelson Oparah (HVAC); Cooper Eades (High School—HVAC); Canyon Echerd (Industrial Motor Control); Jesse Bandy (Marine Service Technology); Maikiab Lor and Hayley Guins-Model (Nail Care); Annie Barnes (Pin Design); Allyson Sullivan (Prepared Speech); Dallas Hicks, Jacob Moore, Aastha Patel, Arabella Swofford, and Emma Travis (Quiz Bowl); Holt Ludwig (Screen Printing); William Denton (Technical Drafting); and Alexis Lockamy (T-Shirt Design).

Bronze medalists included Benjamin Campbell and Nora Kehrley (3D Visualization & Animation); Katherine Cabrera and Chloe Sawyer (Digital Cinema); Justin Gonzales-Gutierrez (Electrical Construction Wiring); Elisa Moralez (Hair Coloring); Robie Vines (Marine Service Technology); Autumn Yang and Carmela Montor-Model (Nail Care); Alexis Williams (Natural Hair Design & Braids); and Katie Knaack, Kennedy Miller, Jeremy Moore, Ashley Luu, and Misty Starr (Quiz Bowl).

Additional medalists included Eric Paz-Leon (Advertising Design); Antrenece Crockett, Mackenzie Pedicino, and Isabella Thomas (Crime Scene Investigation); Luis Cruz and Matthew Race (Digital Cinema); Riley Shoun (Hair Coloring); Stephanus Barnard and Balentin Soloranzo (Robotics: Urban Search & Rescue); Luke Burkett (Welding); Rance Smith (Electrical Construction Wiring); Kobe Vang (Medical Math); and Grant Carswell (Welding).

Tammy Muller, CVCC’s executive director of Skills USA, recently said there are many ways that CVCC can measure its success.

“But there is no more powerful gauge for measuring the success of our college’s mission than to celebrate the accomplishments of our students,” said Muller. “These accomplishments illustrate the positive difference that Skills USA involvement can have on a life.

“Our advisers are the true heroes,” she added. “The countless hours they selflessly devote to the success of our students do not go unnoticed.”

Through proper advising and direction, CVCC received the Outstanding Chapter Award. This showcases all of the educational and extracurricular activities that the college’s student competitors participate in throughout the year. Team members and presenters included Joselyn Galvan-Garcia, Lauren Land, and Makala Pitman.

CVCC was also recognized as the Chapter of Distinction, Framework: Personal Skills, Technical Skills, and Workplace Skills. The Chapter of Distinction recognizes achievement as it relates to the integration of the Skills USA Framework in chapter program activities.

Some 24 students will represent CVCC at the National Skills USA Competition this summer.

Muller extended thanks to the generous instructors, staffers and volunteers who served as Skills USA advisers during the 2023-24 school year. CVCC representatives say they’re proud of all the competitors for their hard work and commitment to enhancing their talents through Skills USA.

To learn more about Skills USA and its history at CVCC, send your e-mail queries to Muller at [email protected]. And to learn more about higher education experiences offered to CVCC students, consult the Website at www.cvcc.edu.

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