Chattanooga State Community College students once again showcased their technical excellence on the statewide stage at this spring’s SkillsUSA Conference, held in Chattanooga.

Often described as the “Olympics of the trades,” SkillsUSA gives students a powerful platform to demonstrate in-demand skills, earn scholarships and professional tools, and connect directly with industry leaders. This year, ChattState students rose to the occasion, earning top honors across a wide range of disciplines.

Gold medalists will advance to represent Tennessee at the 2026 SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference in Atlanta this June, competing alongside the best student talent from across the country.

The College’s impact extended beyond student competition. April Kidd, English and Speech Instructor, was named Tennessee’s New Advisor of the Year, and Chattanooga State earned the prestigious SkillsUSA Chapter Excellence Award, again solidifying its role as a statewide leader in workforce development and student success.

Congratulations to the following outstanding medalists:

Gold 

Barbering 

• Juan Robledo 

Career Pathways Showcase — Agriculture, Food, Natural Resources 

• Logan Cintron 
• Ronald Hill 
• Zachary Wilson   

Career Pathways Showcase — Arts & Communication 

• Lydia Bridgforth 
• Heidi Brock 
• Nahla Hanks 

Career Pathways Showcase — Health Sciences 

• Caitlin Loy 
• Paige Martin 
• Erika Swick 

Career Pathways Showcase — Human Services 

• Joshua Burse 
• Solomon Williams 
• Monchel Young   

Community Service 

• Ania Ball 
• Alyse Simmons 
• Markel Daniel 

Culinary Arts 

• Thomas Lightfoot 

Dental Assisting 

• Abigail Greene 

Employment Application Process 

• Patrica Moreno 

Heavy Equipment Operation 

• Jaisel Balderas 

Job Skill Demo — Open Model 

• Sara Hansen 
• Julianna Fowler 

Landscaping Horticulture Technology 

• William Goodwin 

Marine Service Technology 

• Remington Holt 

Medical Assisting 

• Shelby Brown 

Medical Terminology 

• Autumn Jones 

Motorcycle Service Technology 

• Justin Varner 

Nail Care Model 

• Mirela Villatoro 
• Erin Matthews  

Opening & Closing Ceremonies 

• Alex Varner 
• Alexis Dube 
• Amy Jiminez 
• Andrew Mercer 
• Casey Smith  
• Jocelyn Rocha 
• Kichelle Almoner 
• Abbi Salyers (Alternate) 

Power Equipment Technology 

• Jordan Petit   

Restaurant Service 

• Maddox Gilkey 

Technical Computer Applications 

• Joel Dieguez 

Silver   

Automotive Refinishing Technology 

• Miguel Martinez 

Baking & Pastry Arts  

• Levi Cradle 

Barbering 

• Desmond Howell 

Career Pathways Showcase — Human Services 

• Alena Bailey 
• Sa’Naia Borja 
• Terry Fraire 

Career Pathways Showcase — Industrial Engineering Technology 

• Alexis Hartley 
• Ayden Daniel 
• Robert Paxtor Gomez 

CNC 2-Axis Turning Programmer 

• Franklin Welliver 

Collision Repair Technology 

• Juan Ramos Escobar 

Digital Cinema Production 

• Rain Blanchard 
• Abby Becker 

Employment Application Process 

• Annalise Adams 

Esthetics Model 

• Ferdous Musa 
• Kelly Trigueros Lopez 

Landscape Horticulture Technology 

• Jaxin Patrick 

Marine Service Technology 

• Gunnar Camet 

Pin Design 

• Abby Becker 

Power Equipment Technology 

• Dakota Stephenson 

Principles of Engineering Technology 

• Vinicius Aguiar 

Related Technical Math 

• Johanna Schott 

Restaurant Service 

• Arianna Springs 

Bronze 

Baking & Pastry Arts 

• Jasmine Tongsaavanh 

Collision Damage Appraisal 

• Griffin Myers 

Cosmetology 

• Gabriella Achten 

Customer Service 

• Dequishia Deloney 

Engineering Technology Design 

• Jacob Huffine 
• Sorren Permenter 
• Maxwell Smith 

Extemporaneous Speaking 

• Briley Wear 

Job Interview 

• Ashton Jackson 

Landscaping Horticulture Technology 

• Lucas DeLaughter 

Motorcycle Service Technology 

• Eric Walker 

Pin Design 

• Ian Kidd 

Prepared Speech 

• Destiny Cooper 

Principles of Engineering Technology 

• Cameron Moore 

Related Technical Math 

• Amelia Lane