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    College of Southern Idaho

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    Brigham Young University - Idaho

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    Meridian Technical Charter HS

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    Dennis Technical Education Center

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    Cassia Regional Technical Center

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    Meridian Technical Charter High School

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    North Idaho College

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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.

Tips from KeyBank - Protecting Yourself from Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Powered Imposter Scams

by Tim Munkres • 9 July 2026
Protecting Yourself from Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Powered Imposter Scams – Tips from KeyBank

Meet Jeanne Allen

by Tim Munkres • 8 July 2026
Introducing: Jeanne Allen, QA Engineer II, Destination Pet Describe the business/organization you work for: Destination Pet is a company that provides pet services like boarding, daycare, house sitting, and dog walking and grooming. I work on the Yourgi app, which is the online portal for booking appointments for your pets. What inspired you to start your own business, or why did you decide to work for this specific organization? I decided to work for Destination Pet because the team there is incredible, and I felt like I could make a difference and help the company grow. What sets this business apart from others in the industry? They really care about their customers and try to make every pet service something to remember. What challenges have you faced as a business owner or employee, and how did you overcome them? Working for a tech startup can be hard because the infrastructure isn't set up for development. I enjoy helping set up this infrastructure, so I'm working with the team to make their processes more efficient and enhance communication across teams. What advice would you give to someone looking to join your industry? Be curious and excited to learn. With QA, software development, and devops, there's so much to learn, and being curious is an essential part of the job. About the Idaho Technology Council The Idaho Technology Council (ITC) is a member-based organization that champions innovation and collaboration to grow Idaho’s economy through technology. Representing a dynamic and growing community of entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and policymakers, ITC connects vision with action to position Idaho as a hub for innovation and opportunity. Learn more at www.idahotechcouncil.org . Connect with Jeanne on LinkedIn HERE Check out Destination Pet HERE

ITC Hosts Inaugural iTECH Summit in the Magic Valley

22 June 2026
Two-day summit at the College of Southern Idaho unites regional leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators around the theme Tech Powered. Community Led. — marking the Idaho Technology Council's first major event in South Central Idaho.