July 9, 2025

Eleven talented Forsyth Tech students proudly represented the college on the national stage this summer at the 60th annual SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta, held June 23–27, 2025. Of those competitors, seven students earned national recognition with podium finishes, proving once again that Forsyth Tech students are among the best in the country in their fields.

3 men sit at a table, each wearing a blue, short-sleeved collared shirt and dark pants. Behind them is a very large, yellow piece of heavy equipment.

Noah Blevins and Owen Attucks captured the silver medal in 3D Visualization and Animation, showcasing their creativity, technical skill, and teamwork. Tully McKinley brought home a bronze medal in Diesel Equipment Technology, standing out among the nation’s top postsecondary diesel students. In the Video News Production category, a team of four Forsyth Tech students—Grayson Bright, Hunter Eddinger, Dasia Hill, and Jadakess Stowe—earned bronze medals for their strong storytelling, production quality, and broadcast skills.

These national accolades followed top finishes at the state level, where each competitor had to place first in their respective category at the SkillsUSA North Carolina State Conference in April to advance to nationals.

This year, 303 North Carolina Career & Technical Education students from 71 schools participated in the national event. The North Carolina postsecondary delegation alone included 120 student contestants from 28 colleges. The state’s students earned 50 medals overall—10 gold, 25 silver, and 15 bronze—and 88% placed in the top 10 nationally in their events.

SkillsUSA is a nonprofit partnership of education and industry that supports students preparing for careers in trade, technical, and skilled service occupations. Since 1965, SkillsUSA has served more than 14 million members and remains a vital force in closing the skills gap in the American workforce. Through its national championships, credentialing programs, and leadership development, SkillsUSA helps ensure students graduate with the skills needed to succeed at work and in life.

Paul Heidepriem, Executive Director of SkillsUSA North Carolina, praised the dedication of students and instructors alike, saying, “We are incredibly proud of our students and teachers for embodying our slogan of being ‘Champions at Work.’ Our teachers and instructors are ensuring that the Framework of Personal, Workplace, and Technical Skills are developed in each classroom.”

Forsyth Tech is proud to celebrate these outstanding students and the instructors who helped them prepare. Their achievements reflect the high-quality instruction and hands-on learning that are the hallmarks of career and technical education.

To learn more about SkillsUSA and its programs, visit SkillsUSA.org and SkillsUSAnc.org.