Idaho Students Participate in 2024 SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference
Students from across Idaho were invited to participate in America’s preeminent workforce development event. The 2024 SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference was held in June in Atlanta for career and technical students from across the nation. 197 Idahoans attended, including 95 student competitors. At the conference, students participated either as competitors or as voting delegates. Competitors focused on one skill area, while delegates represented their state and conducted the business of the organization. Most students had opportunities to meet with business and industry representatives as part of their events. Thousands of students competed in 115 occupational and leadership skill areas at the annual event. The main contest days were June 26-27 with other days set aside for orientation, interviews and written tests. The event concluded with an awards ceremony on June 28. Students also interacted with business and industry representatives, heard from government officials and attended educational sessions.
Idaho students worked hard throughout the week. The following is a list of the Idaho students that received awards in their competition, as well as their school’s name:
Gold Medalists
Welding Fabrication: Emma Salka, Caleb Williams, and Joseph Wood - Bringham Young University - Idaho
Automated Manufacturing Technology: Jonathan Coy, Joel Fillmore, and Peter Munk - College of Southern Idaho
Electronics Technology: Joshua Makuch – Dennis Technical Education Center
Computer Programming: Kayden Humphries – Meridian Technical Charter High School
Web Design and Development: Rhys Jordan and Steven Shoen – Meridian Technical Charter High School
Collision Repair Technology: Jonathon Brunko – North Idaho College
Silver Medalists
Telecommunications Cabling: Aaron Cockrell – Dennis Technical Education Center
Bronze Medalists
Heavy Equipment Operation: Parker Osterhout – Cassia Regional Technical Center
Entrepreneurship: Sydney Cooper, Bailey Hayes, Natalie Klucken, Jessica Mercier – College of Southern Idaho
Telecommunications Cabling: Tony Ha – College of Western Idaho
Electronics Technology: Ty Linder – Dennis Technical Education Center
In addition to the competition awards, Bailey Jensen from Boise State University was elected to serve as a SkillsUSA National Officer for the 2024-2025 year, and Dr. Harold Nevill was awarded the SkillsUSA Honorary Life Membership Award for 30 years of service and dedication to SkillsUSA and Idaho CTE programs.
About SkillsUSA
SkillsUSA is America’s proud champion of the skilled trades. It’s a student-led partnership of education and industry that’s building the skilled workforce our nation depends on with graduates who are career ready, day one. Representing over 380,000 career and technical education students and teachers, SkillsUSA chapters thrive in middle schools, high schools and college/postsecondary institutions nationwide. SkillsUSA’s mission empowers students to become skilled professionals, career-ready leaders and responsible community members. That mission is accomplished through the SkillsUSA Framework of Personal Skills, Workplace Skills and Technical Skills Grounded in Academics, which is integrated into classroom curriculum. Through Framework instruction, students develop the character-shaping leadership skills — teamwork, communication, professionalism and more — that successful careers and lives demand. At the same time, students hone their high-level technical skills against current industry standards in more than 130 skilled trade areas, from 3-D Animation to Welding. The result? Focused, confident and highly skilled graduates who are ready to work, ready to lead and ready to make a difference in our schools, workplaces and communities. A vital solution to the skills gap, where more in-demand skilled trades positions are available than qualified professionals to
fill them, SkillsUSA has served over 14 million difference-making members since 1965. For more, visit www.skillsusa.org.
