April 14, 2026
By EMILY MARSHALL
Rutherford County Schools
Students from Rutherford County Schools earned top honors at the Tennessee SkillsUSA State Leadership and Skills Conference in Chattanooga, Tennessee from March 15-18, 2026, demonstrating exceptional technical ability and leadership among the state’s top Career and Technical Education (CTE) students.
Hosted annually by SkillsUSA Tennessee, the conference brings together students, educators, and industry leaders in a statewide showcase of workforce-ready skills. The event features hands-on competitions, leadership development opportunities, a college and career fair, and recognition ceremonies designed to highlight student achievement and align training with current industry standards.
RCS students demonstrated outstanding performance across a wide range of competitive events:
Gold Medalists
- Industrial Motor Control – Oakland: Micah Poe
- Commercial sUAS Drone – Oakland: Sophia Frisby & Bennett Payne
- Additive Manufacturing – Oakland: Nick Bradford & Brian Lin
- Electronics Technology – Oakland: Triona Teasley
- Baking & Pastry Arts – Rockvale: Rachel King
- Promotional Bulletin Board – Riverdale: David Baker, Andrea Rodriguez, Lynnlee Tune
- Digital Cinema Production – Riverdale: Tyler Pilgrim & Christian McConnell
- IT Networking – Rockvale: Jaivyn Moore
- Plumbing – Smyrna: Carson Watts
- 3D Visualization & Animation – Smyrna: Leona Booker & Dameon Deckert
- Graphic Communications – Smyrna: John Lodl
- Mock Trial – Stewarts Creek: Gabby Rogers, Mary Berhane, Maria Botros
- Job Interview – Stewarts Creek: Kai Sayasiak
- Pin Design- LaVergne: Julianna Osorio
Silver Medalists
- Engineering Technology Design – Oakland: Alex Roberts, Brendan Russell, Armando Quinonez
- 3D Visualization & Animation – Siegel: Peter Hatcher & Caiden Lester
- Graphic Communications – Siegel: Tanner Davis
- Photography – Riverdale: Sydney Teichman
- Power Equipment Technology – Oakland: Cooper Rigney
- Sublimation – Oakland: Lindsy Acosta
- Action Skills Fingerprinting – Rockvale: Shyanne Carr
- CNC Programming – Rockvale: Landon Horton
- Basic Health Care Skills – Rockvale: Samiyah Stackens
- Sheet Metal Working – Rockvale: Levi Gage Walls
- Advertising & Design – Rockvale: Drake Fisk
- Suitcase Display (SkillsUSA) – Smyrna: Rosario Nava & Elizabeth Musgraves
- Suitcase Display (Occupational) – Smyrna: Kimberly Mena, Ana Rosales Espinoze, Jackson Stanulis
- IoT Smart Home – Stewarts Creek: Mason Poole
- Culinary Arts – Stewarts Creek: Aiden Prieto
- Video Production – Stewarts Creek: Maggie Lupear & Matteo Quintero
Bronze Medalists
- Automated Manufacturing Technology – Oakland: Clark Edge, Evan Lowry, Neilah Hernandez-Rivera
- Graphic Imaging & Sublimation – Siegel: Emma Grace Rooker
- Photography – Siegel: Olivia Florence
- Advertising Design – Siegel: Selene Robinson
- Culinary Arts – Rockvale: Mark Morgan
- Motorcycle Service Technology – Oakland High: Madelyn Leach
- Auto Refinishing – Rockvale: Nader Abskharon
- Internet of Things – Rockvale: Jaylen Raymond
- HVAC – Smyrna: Larry Andrews
- Prepared Speech – Stewarts Creek: Adut Chol
- Suitcase Display – Stewarts Creek: Makenna Bryant, Avianna Pruitt, Emily Bartee
- Telecommunications Cabling – Stewarts Creek: Jackson Polumbo
- Restaurant Service – Stewarts Creek: Kaitlyn Owens
- Nail Technology- Riverdale: Sophia Dang
Gold medalists from the 2026 state conference have qualified to advance to the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference, scheduled for June 1–5, 2026, at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. This national event brings together the top CTE students from across the country to compete in industry-aligned events and demonstrate advanced career-readiness.
Emma Conway of Rockvale Elected to State Office: Rockvale's Emma Conway was elected as the 2026–2027 SkillsUSA Tennessee State Parliamentarian. SkillsUSA Tennessee state officers are elected annually by student members at the State Leadership and Skills Conference and serve as ambassadors for the organization. These student leaders support statewide programming, lead conferences and workshops, and represent SkillsUSA through outreach and engagement with members, educators, and industry partners.
Scholarship Winners: In addition to competition honors, SkillsUSA provides members with access to exclusive scholarship opportunities that support postsecondary education and career training. Each year, SkillsUSA awards more than $400,000 in scholarships through the support of industry and education partners, recognizing students for their technical skill, leadership, and career readiness. Rutherford County students earning scholarships are:
- Taylor Hearn of Oakland earned a $5,000 scholarship to the University of Northwestern Ohio after placing 4th in Diesel Equipment Technology.
- Aiden Prieto of Stewarts Creek received a $5,000 Culinary Arts scholarship.
- Kaitlyn Owens of Stewarts Creek received a $5,000 Restaurant Service scholarship.
During the Tennessee SkillsUSA conference, LaVergne High School was recognized with the Quality Chapter Award within the Chapter of Excellence Program, a recognition given to top programs across the state. Additionally, student members, Kenya Clayborn and Daniela Suarez, served in a leadership capacity during the conference as state voting delegates.
SkillsUSA represents more than 444,000 career and technical education students and teachers nationwide, with chapters in middle schools, high schools, and postsecondary institutions. The organization’s mission is to empower students to become skilled professionals, career-ready leaders, and responsible community members. To learn at https://skillsusa11dev.wpenginepowered.com/who-we-are/