The annual SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference took place in Atlanta, showcasing Georgia's exceptional talent in technical education. This year, Georgia continued to excel on the national stage, securing the sixth ranking in the country for total medals, with a grand total of 66. The event highlighted the state's commitment to nurturing skilled professionals ready for a growing workforce.

“We are incredibly proud of our students and their outstanding achievements at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference,” said TCSG Commissioner, Greg Dozier. “Their success reflects the high-quality education and training provided by our 22 technical colleges. Congratulations to all the participants and thank you to our dedicated instructors and industry partners who support and inspire our students every day." 

Georgia ranked sixth in the nation for the total number of medals, with a tally of 66 medals. Specifically, Georgia Postsecondary earned a total of 58 medals:

• 24 Gold
• 15 Silver
• 19 Bronze

Among the top-performing chapters, Gwinnett Technical College led the way with 18 medals, followed by Savannah Technical College with 12 medals, and Lanier Technical College with seven medals. The Dr. John Scott Award for the highest scoring individual competitor in Georgia Postsecondary was awarded to Dayoon Kim from Gwinnett Technical College, who excelled in the Medical Math contest. The Curtiss Bell Award for the highest scoring team competitors in Georgia Postsecondary was awarded to the Additive Manufacturing team from Chattahoochee Technical College, comprising Spencer Hachem and Darin Swagerty.

SkillsUSA is proud to be a certifying organization of the President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA), recognizing sustained volunteer service. Gwinnett Technical College was honored with three gold level awards and one silver award, acknowledging their commitment to community service.

For the first time in over a decade, SkillsUSA Georgia Postsecondary had a student elected to the SkillsUSA National Officer Team. Emily Pinto from Augusta Technical College served as the SkillsUSA National College/Postsecondary Vice President, playing a pivotal role in facilitating the conference attended by 17,000 participants.

In addition, Dr. Tjazha Mazhani, the Technical College System of Georgia Student Affairs Manager and SkillsUSA Georgia Postsecondary State Director, was elected to the SkillsUSA National Board of Directors.

To learn more about SkillsUSA Georgia Postsecondary, visit: www.skillsusagaps.org