GADSDEN — Gadsden State Community College students showcased their technical expertise and leadership skills on the state stage, earning a total of 15 medals during the recent Alabama SkillsUSA Leadership Conference and SkillsUSA Championships in Birmingham.

Competing under this year’s SkillsUSA theme, “Champion Your Future,” students from Gadsden State’s Ayers, East Broad and Valley Street campuses brought home two gold medals, five silver medals and eight bronze medals while competing against some of the state’s top career and technical education students.

The annual SkillsUSA competition provides high school and college students with opportunities to demonstrate the technical training, leadership development and hands-on skills they have gained through career and technical education programs. Students competed in more than 85 categories, including industrial motor controls, HVACR, automotive refinishing, robotics and automation technology, extemporaneous speaking, electrical construction wiring, nail care and carpentry.

Andy Robertson, dean of Workforce Development at Gadsden State, said the college’s partnership with SkillsUSA plays an important role in preparing students to meet workforce demands across Alabama.

“Gadsden State is proud to partner with SkillsUSA in helping meet Alabama’s growing workforce needs by preparing and placing highly skilled Alabamians into meaningful careers,” Robertson said. “By combining technical skills training, leadership development, employability preparation and hands-on learning experiences rooted in citizenship and service, SkillsUSA and Gadsden State’s career technical education programs equip students with the tools they need to become world-class employees, leaders and active contributors within their communities.”

Among the college’s top performers were Dalton Chandler and Lucas Wilson, who each captured gold medals and first-place finishes in their respective categories. Chandler earned top honors in Electrical Construction Wiring, while Wilson claimed first place in Industrial Motor Controls.

As state champions, Chandler and Wilson will advance to represent Gadsden State at the 61st annual National Leadership and Skills Conference, scheduled for June 1–5 in Atlanta.

Five Gadsden State entries earned silver medals and second-place finishes.

Philip Carter placed second in Technical Drafting, while John Allen Mooneyham earned a silver medal in HVAC. Tristan Page finished second in Extemporaneous Speaking. In team competitions, Cayson Hardy and Bryce Anderson took second place in Robotics and Automation Technology, and Alejandra Franco and Jordan Matheney earned silver medals in Additive Manufacturing Technology.

Eight students and teams earned bronze medals for third-place finishes.

Kyle Chandler received a bronze medal in Electrical Construction Wiring, while Joshua Allen placed third in Industrial Motor Controls. Anelisse Garcia earned third place in Cosmetology, and Kameron Kuykendoll finished third in Technical Drafting. Franklin Bishop secured a bronze medal in HVAC, Matthew Usry placed third in 5-Axis Milling, and William Andru Houser earned third place in 2-Axis Turning. The team of Braxton Bussie and Zachary Blaum also captured a bronze medal in Robotics and Automation Technology.

In addition to the competition success, Gadsden State student Tristan Brown was elected Alabama SkillsUSA State President for the college division.

State officers are chosen by their peers during the Alabama SkillsUSA State Leadership and Skills Conference and serve as representatives for the organization’s membership throughout Alabama.

The students’ achievements reflect the work of numerous instructors and program advisors across Gadsden State’s campuses.

Program advisors for the competing students included Daniel Anderson for Additive Manufacturing and CNC 5-Axis Milling Programmer; Matt Maini and Keith Tolbert for Robotics and Automation Technology; Dwayne Pruitt for Automotive Service Technology; Laura Sullins for Prepared Speech; Valeria Hill and Kristina Puckett for Barbering and Cosmetology; Hollie Bonds and James Wilson for Architectural Drafting and Technical Drafting; Peyton Amberson and Daniel Anderson for CNC 2-Axis Turning Programmer and CNC 3-Axis Milling Programmer; Wes Beecham and Todd Chandler for Electrical Construction Wiring; Wes Beecham for Industrial Motor Control; Peyton Amberson for Extemporaneous Speaking; and Tim Harrison for HVACR.

Robertson credited the college’s instructors for helping students develop the skills and confidence needed to excel in competition and in their future careers.

“We are extremely proud of the dedicated and highly skilled technical instructors across our campuses,” Robertson said. “Their commitment to student success helps prepare students with the knowledge, confidence and hands-on experience needed to compete in these events, earn a degree or certificate, and successfully transition into today’s workforce.”

SkillsUSA is a national workforce development organization dedicated to preparing students for careers through technical, skilled and service occupations. The organization serves more than 444,000 students and instructors nationwide and focuses on developing technical proficiency, leadership abilities and citizenship.

According to SkillsUSA, its mission is to empower members to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens, while helping create the most highly skilled workforce in the world and providing every member the opportunity for career success.

For more information about Gadsden State’s technical education programs, visit www.GadsdenState.edu/Technical.