Gadsden, Ala. – Gadsden State Community College students earned two gold medals, five silver medals and eight bronze medals during the recent Alabama SkillsUSA Leadership Conference and SkillsUSA Championships in Birmingham. The SkillsUSA theme for this year was “Champion Your Future”.

Technical students from Gadsden State’s Ayers, East Broad and Valley Street campuses competed with students in over 85 different categories including industrial motor control, HVACR, automotive refinishing, robotics and automation technology, extemporaneous speaking, electrical construction wiring, nail care and carpentry.   

The SkillsUSA competition is an annual event, providing high school and college students an opportunity to showcase their technical skills training, leadership development and hands-on experiences in a series of competitive tasks. 
“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,” said Andy Robertson, dean of Workforce Development at Gadsden State. “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.”

Students finishing in first place and earning gold medals are Dalton Chandler in Electrical Construction Wiring and Lucas Wilson in Industrial Motor Controls.

Students earning silver medals and finishing in second place include Philip Carter in Technical Drafting; John Allen Mooneyham in HVAC; Tristan Page in Extemporaneous Speaking; the team of Cayson Hardy and Bryce Anderson in Robotics and Automation Technology; and the team of Alejandra Franco and Jordan Matheney in Additive Manufacturing Technology.

Bronze medals for finishing third place were awarded to Kyle Chandler in Electrical Construction Wiring; Joshua Allen in Industrial Motor Controls; Anelisse Garcia in Cosmetology; Kameron Kuykendoll in Technical Drafting; Franklin Bishop in HVAC; Matthew Usry in 5-Axis Milling; William Andru Houser in 2-Axis Turning; and the team of Braxton Bussie and Zachary Blaum in Robotics and Automation Technology.

Tristan Brown from Gadsden State was voted as the SkillsUSA Alabama State President for the college division. Alabama SkillsUSA officers are elected by their peers at the State Leadership and Skills Conference and represent Alabama’s membership.

Individual gold medal winners, Dalton Chandler and Lucas Wilson, will represent Gadsden State at the 61st annual National Leadership and Skills Conference June 1–5 in Atlanta.

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

“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.”
For more information about Gadsden State technical programs visit www.GadsdenState.edu/Technical.

About SkillsUSA:
Alabama SkillsUSA is developing the next generation of world-class champions at work. Alabama SkillsUSA is committed to producing a generation of strong workers and exceptional leaders who will take America’s workforce into a new frontier of triumph and prosperity.  The national organization serves more than 444,000 students and instructors.  SkillsUSA empowers its members to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens. Our vision is to produce the most highly skilled workforce in the world, providing every member the opportunity for career success.


Gadsden State Community College students Lucas Wilson and Dalton Chandler will represent Gadsden State at the SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference in Atlanta June 1–5. They are pictured with instructors Todd Chandler and Wesley Beecham.