Two Surprise students were recognized at the 2025 SkillsUSA Championships last month in Atlanta with certificates of accomplishment.

Craig Barrett was awarded a Skill Point Certificate in power equipment technology, while Parker Katena earned one in marine service technology at the championships on June 25 and 26. They are both students at the Northwest Campus of West-MEC in Surprise.

SkillsUSA is a workforce development organization for students, empowering them to become skilled professionals, career-ready leaders and responsible community members.

Barrett and Katena were part of more than 6,500 students who competed at the national showcase of career and technical education. The SkillsUSA Championships is the largest skill competition in the world and covers 1.79 million square feet, equivalent to 31 football fields or 41 acres.

First-place state winners were invited to the event to demonstrate their technical skills, workplace skills and personal skills in 114 hands-on occupational and leadership competitions including robotics, automotive technology, drafting, criminal justice, aviation maintenance and public speaking.

Industry leaders from 850 businesses, corporations, trade associations and unions planned and evaluated the contestants against their standards for entry-level workers.

More than 1,200 industry judges and technical committee members participated this year.

All competitors were honored June 27 at the closing SkillsUSA Awards Session at State Farm Arena.

As an indicator of proficiency, Skill Point Certificates were awarded to the national contestants who met a predetermined threshold contest score for their SkillsUSA event, demonstrating workplace readiness. Students can add this certificate to an employment portfolio.

“This showcase of career and technical education demonstrates SkillsUSA at its finest,” SkillsUSA Executive Director Chelle Travis said. “Our students, instructors and industry partners work together to ensure that every student excels.”

The SkillsUSA Championships event is held annually for students in middle school, high school or college/postsecondary programs as part of the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference. The national, nonprofit partnership of students, instructors and industry is a verified talent pipeline for America’s skilled workforce that is working to help solve the skills gap.

“This program expands learning and career opportunities for our members,” Travis said.

SkillsUSA represents more than 442,000 career and technical education students and teachers in middle schools, high schools and college/postsecondary institutions nationwide.

Those members represent 130 in-demand occupational areas, from 3D animation to welding. A vital solution to the skills gap, SkillsUSA has served over 15 million members since its founding in 1965.

Log on to skillsusa.org.