April 24, 2026

Several Forsyth Tech students competed in the SkillsUSA North Carolina Championships competition on April 15-17, 2026 at the Greensboro Coliseum and Koury Convention Center. The conference was the largest showcase of Career and Technical Education in North Carolina with more than 3,100 outstanding career and technical education students competing in over 140 hands-on trade, technical and leadership contests.  These contests span more than 95 trade areas from construction, automotive, and welding to drafting, public safety, culinary, cosmetology and more.

Forsyth Tech students earned 12 medals, and swept the Diesel Equipment Technology Competition. 

Forsyth Tech’s Audio Production students won the Silver (Luis Guajardo Armendariz and Justin Lentz) and Bronze (Noah Nevergall and Gracie Grubbs) medals, as well as fourth (Rafael Barbos and Kylie Edson) and fifth (Morgan Maynard and Manny Gonzalez) place. And, in Video (TV) Production, Team E (Aidan Mcghee and Colt Crozier) earned Silver and Team D (Nico Pezet and Payton Gatewood) earned fifth place. In Video News Production, Team B (Chad Peterson, Mark Payne, Rachel Parsons and Eric Clifton) earned Gold.

Ever Jimenez earned a Bronze medal in Collision Damage Appraisal, and Bryson Carter earned Silver in Collision Repair Technology.

Caleb Powell earned Gold, Madison Boone earned Silver, Body Lankford earned Bronze, Zachary Stevens placed fourth and John David Swink placed fifth in the Diesel Equipment Technology competition – sweeping the board.

Kiwi Nicholas earned Gold and Nicholas Cornett earned Silver in Motorcycle Service Technology.

Jandel Yanez Doninguez earned Bronze in Welding.

During the state competition, these students worked against the clock and each other, proving their expertise in their chosen occupations. All contests are run with the help of industry, trade associations and technical experts and test competencies that are set by industry.  In addition, leadership contestants demonstrated their skills, which included extemporaneous speaking and conducting meetings with parliamentary procedure. Over 100 industry partners, such as the North Carolina Department of Transportation, Bosch Community Foundation, 84 Lumber, NCMCA, Carolina Ford Dealers, Doosan Bobcat, Sundt Construction, Brady Services, Edwards Inc, Builders Mutual, and many more, help support the competitive events.

Top student winners received gold, silver and bronze medallions. Many also received prizes such as tools and/or scholarships to further their careers and education. The SkillsUSA North Carolina Championships are for middle school, high school and college-level students who are members of SkillsUSA.  First place winners earn the right to compete in the National SkillsUSA Championships in Atlanta, GA alongside more than 7,700 other competitors from across the country in over 100 contests.

About SkillsUSA

SkillsUSA (formerly known as Vocational Industrial Clubs of America or V.I.C.A.) is a national partnership of students, teachers and industry, working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce by providing students with the opportunities to gain personal skills, workplace skills, and technical skills grounded in academics.  SkillsUSA chapters help students who are preparing for careers in technical, skilled and service occupations excel. SkillsUSA has more than 440,000 student and instructor members throughout the nation. For more information, visit SkillsUSAnc.org (North Carolina) or SkillsUSA.org.