Wisconsin Rapids Mid-State Student Receives Gold Medal at SkillsUSA National Leadership Conference

Wednesday, June 10th, 2026 -- 11:01 AM

Career and technical education students from Wisconsin exhibited excellence and brought home medals at the 2026 SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference held in Atlanta, Ga. June 1-5, 2026.

The annual SkillsUSA conference for middle school, high school, and college-level students who are members of SkillsUSA was a showcase of the best career and technical education (CTE) students in the nation.

Students competed in 101 different trade, technical, and leadership events, working against the clock, proving their expertise in occupations such as Advertising Design, Carpentry, Cosmetology, Diesel Equipment Technology, First Aid/CPR, Masonry, Medical Math, Photography, Prepared Speech, Technical Drafting, and Welding Fabrication.

SkillsUSA Wisconsin sent 102 students representing 42 schools to compete in the national workforce event, with the students participating in 65 different events. In addition, six state officers attended and participated in the conference.

Austin Young of Mid-State Technical College in Wisconsin Rapids received a gold medal for CNC Programmer. Six Wisconsin student contestants placed fourth, just missing out on medaling, and 47 out of 101 high school and middle school competitors finished in the top 10.

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