West Valley students recognized at SkillsUSA National Championships

Several West Valley students earned national recognition at the 2025 SkillsUSA Championships, held in late June in Atlanta, Georgia. The event drew more than 6,500 student competitors from across the country and is considered the largest showcase of career and technical education in the world.

The following local students received Skill Point Certificates, which are awarded to national contestants who meet a predetermined threshold score in their event, indicating workplace readiness:

• Team R, composed of Miriam Christensen, Hermes Garcia and Colton Crow from West-MEC Southwest Campus in Buckeye, received a Skill Point Certificate in Career Pathways – Industrial and Engineering Technology.
• Tyler Bravo, from Goodyear and a student at West-MEC Southwest Campus, earned a Skill Point Certificate in Internetworking.
• Team F, consisting of Carley Wright, Brenna Beatty, Dahlia Merkle, Katharyn McNamara, Elijah Lugo and Brooke Webb from Estrella Foothills High School in Goodyear, received a Skill Point Certificate in Chapter Business Procedure.

Students competed in 114 hands-on events, ranging from robotics and criminal justice to public speaking and aviation maintenance. First-place winners from each state advanced to the national competition, where they were evaluated by more than 1,200 judges and technical committee members.

“More than 6,500 students from every state in the nation participated in the 2025 SkillsUSA Championships,” said SkillsUSA Executive Director Chelle Travis. “This showcase of career and technical education demonstrates SkillsUSA at its finest. Our students, instructors and industry partners work together to ensure that every student excels. This program expands learning and career opportunities for our members.”

The competition was held with support from 850 businesses, trade associations and unions.

The SkillsUSA Championships is part of the organization’s annual National Leadership and Skills Conference, open to middle school, high school and college/postsecondary students. The national nonprofit works with schools and industry to support technical training and address the skilled labor shortage.

More information is available at skillsusa.org.