Wisconsin career and technical education students brought home national medals from the 2026 SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference in Atlanta.
According to SkillsUSA Wisconsin, 102 students representing 42 schools competed June 1-5 in 65 events. The national SkillsUSA Championships are held with the annual conference and feature students competing in skilled and leadership contests. SkillsUSA’s national page lists the 2026 championships for June 1-5 in Atlanta.
Wisconsin students earned gold medals in eight events.
Gold medal winners included Deagan Cleveland of Northwood Technical College in Rice Lake for carpentry; Austin Young of Mid-State Technical College in Wisconsin Rapids for C-N-C Programmer; Kaylie Steinhaus of Madison Area Technical College for cosmetology; James Wondra of Madison Area Technical College for diesel equipment technology; and Macha Kapanaiah of Madison Area Technical College for Job Skill Demonstration A.
A Gifford School team from Racine — Tristen Borke-McGowan, Declan Matter and Jackson Meyers — won gold in Engineering Technology-Design. Drew Kraus of Hartford Union High School won gold in Facilithon-Leadership in Facility Management. Hartford Union High School students Brook Jelen, Charlie Kraus, Carter Redelings and Nathaniel Weber won gold in TeamWorks.
Silver medals went to Wisconsin students in additive manufacturing, advertising design, automated manufacturing technology, aviation maintenance technology, carpentry, C-N-C Programmer, job interview, job skill demonstrations and welding.
Bronze medals went to Wisconsin students in cabinetmaking, C-N-C 2-Axis Turning Programmer, collision repair technology, extemporaneous speaking, First Aid-C-P-R, power equipment technology, screen printing technology and welding fabrication.
SkillsUSA Wisconsin also said six Wisconsin competitors placed fourth, just missing medals, and 47 high school and middle school competitors finished in the top 10.
Emma Schwantes of Madison Area Technical College was elected a 2026-27 SkillsUSA college/postsecondary national officer. SkillsUSA’s national officer page lists Schwantes among the students elected at the 2026 National Leadership & Skills Conference.
SkillsUSA is a national nonprofit serving students preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations.
