Montana Students Shine at 2025 SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta

[Roberta Tilleman]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Montana Students Shine at SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta

ATLANTA, GA — The last week of June saw more than 6,000 students from across the United States gather in Atlanta, Georgia, for the annual SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference (NLSC)—a premier event showcasing America’s future skilled workforce. Among the standout delegations at this prestigious event was SkillsUSA Montana, whose students achieved extraordinary results on the national stage.

SkillsUSA’s National Conference is the largest gathering of America’s career and technical education students. Over 100 different trade, technical, and leadership contests—from Power Equipment Technology to Medical Math, T-Shirt Design to Opening and Closing Ceremonies, allow students to demonstrate their skills in real-world scenarios evaluated by industry professionals. It is a celebration of craftsmanship, professionalism, and leadership.

Montana sent a team of 53 outstanding competitors, participating in 34 diverse contests, and their performance was nothing short of spectacular. Forty-five percent of Montana students placed in the top ten, and 32 percent earned a top 20 national ranking—an exceptional accomplishment given the national scale and competitiveness of the event.

Montana’s students brought home a total of 11 national medals:

·        4 Gold

·        4 Silver

·        3 Bronze

GOLD MEDALS:

·        Nicholas McQueeney, MSU-Gallatin College – Post-Secondary Firefighting

·        Darby Middle School Promotional Bulletin Board Team – Paityn Pelkey, Stella Smith, and Macey Strayer

SILVER MEDALS:

·        Sterling Shelton, MSU-Northern, Havre – Post-Secondary Automotive Service Technology

·        Charles Maus, Sentinel High School, Missoula – High School Technical Computer Applications

·        Alberton Middle School Urban Search & Rescue Robotics Team – Mahlon Manson and Varuna Peeblson

BRONZE MEDALS:

·        Plains Middle School Engineering Challenge Team – Clinton Weedeman, Gary Rehbein, and Bryan Lakko

These achievements are particularly historic for Montana, as this marked the first time the state sent middle school teams to nationals in these categories. Their exceptional performances demonstrated that they not only belonged on the national stage—but were leaders in their respective fields.

In addition to medals, Montana students earned 29 Skill Point Certificates, awarded to competitors who meet or exceed national industry-defined standards in their contest areas. These certificates are a recognized symbol of technical excellence and are endorsed by leading companies. Each certificate outlines the specific competencies achieved and can be added to the student’s employment portfolio—a testament to their proficiency and professionalism.

To view the complete list of Skill Point Certificate recipients, please visit the SkillsUSA Montana Facebook or Instagram page.

This year's showing continues to raise the bar for Montana's career and technical education community. With growing statewide recognition and support, SkillsUSA Montana is helping students turn their skills into careers and their passions into professions.

Interested in starting a SkillsUSA chapter in your school or learning more about the organization? Visit SkillsUSA Montana Website for more information.

Congratulations to all our Montana competitors! Your dedication, skill, and professionalism make our state proud. Keep excelling in all you do!

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Media Contact:
Roberta Tilleman, State Director
SkillsUSA Montana
stated...@skillsusamontana.org
1-406-868-3489