Atlanta, Ga. (Grassroots Newswire) June 29, 2026 – Career and technical education students were recognized with a certificate of accomplishment at the SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference (NLSC) held June 1-5 in Atlanta. An all-time high of 7,000 students competed in the 2026 SkillsUSA Championships at NLSC, which is the largest gathering of the future skilled workforce.
As an indicator of proficiency, Skill Point Certificates were awarded to SkillsUSA Championships competitors who met a predetermined threshold score for their respective competition. Students can add this certificate, an indicator of career readiness, to their employment portfolio.
The following students from your area are Skill Point Certificate recipients:
* From West Virginia: Payten Huffman, from Maysville and a student at South Branch Career & Technical Center (Petersburg), was awarded a Skill Point Certificate in Welding Sculpture.
* From West Virginia: Joelle Boddy, from New Creek and a student at South Branch Career & Technical Center (Petersburg), was awarded a Skill Point Certificate in Nurse Assisting.
* From West Virginia: Jacee Crites, from Petersburg and a student at South Branch Career & Technical Center (Petersburg), was awarded a Skill Point Certificate in Prepared Speech.
* From West Virginia: Olivia Kimble, from Petersburg and a student at South Branch Career & Technical Center (Petersburg), was awarded a Skill Point Certificate in Cosmetology.
* From West Virginia: Team C (consisting of Ella Chew, Summer Moyers, Kourtney Alexander), from South Branch Career & Technical Center (Petersburg), was awarded a Skill Point Certificate in Crime Scene Investigation.
To be invited to the SkillsUSA Championships, students first had to win their state-level competition, demonstrating their technical skills, workplace skills and personal skills. The national competition featured state champions from middle school, high school and college/postsecondary divisions across the country in 115 hands-on career and leadership competitions including robotics, automotive technology, drafting, criminal justice, aviation maintenance, public speaking and more.
“This showcase of career and technical education demonstrates SkillsUSA at its finest,” said SkillsUSA Executive Director Chelle Travis. “Our students, instructors and industry partners work together to ensure that every student excels.”
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. It’s supported by leaders from 850 businesses, corporations, trade associations and unions who planned and evaluated the competitors against their industry standards. More than 2,000 industry judges and technical committee members also volunteered their time to ensure a successful event.
The next NLSC will be held June 21-25, 2027, in Atlanta. Learn more about SkillsUSA, the No. 1 workforce development organization for students, at www.skillsusa.org.
About SkillsUSA
SkillsUSA is the #1 workforce development organization for students, empowering them to become skilled professionals, career-ready leaders and responsible community members. SkillsUSA represents more than 440,000 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 3-D animation to welding. A vital solution to the skills gap, SkillsUSA has served over 16 million members since its founding in 1965. Learn more at skillsusa.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn.
