Students from College of Lake County (CLC) put their skills and talents to the test against the best in the state at the SkillsUSA Illinois State Leadership & Skills Conference 2024. Thirty-six students from eight departments took home 12 gold medals, four silver medals, four bronze medals and three honorable mentions.

SkillsUSA gives students the chance to show off the skills they’ve learned and meet people in the industries they plan to work in after college.

The gold medal winners earned a chance to travel and compete at the National Leadership & Skills Conference June 24-28 in Atlanta where they will compete against other finalists from state competitions around the country.

"SkillsUSA Illinois was an incredible experience for our CLC Lancers who all proved to be among the leaders in the state,” said SkillsUSA Advisor and Instructor Dave Wooten. “The competition was fierce as very narrow margins separated the students."

Students competed in a variety of events including early childhood education, industrial motor control, criminal justice, collision repair technology, culinary arts, mechatronics, crime scene investigation, preschool interactive display, automotive refinishing technology, welding fabrication technology and automotive service technology.

The five gold medal-winning individuals are Tessia Milkie, early childhood education; Alejandro Haro, industrial motor control; Stephany Amador, criminal justice; Abraham Garcia, collision repair technology and Sam Soulari, culinary arts.

“SkillsUSA was an amazing experience I was blessed to be able to be a part of,” Milkie said. “I met so many individuals who are so passionate. I personally feel this competition boosted my confidence in my field. This competition allowed me to grow in and gain the confidence needed to push further with many ideas I have for early learners’ classroom.”

Silver individual medalists included Mia Danca, criminal justice; Jussara Huseby, early childhood education; Ryan Selby, collision repair technology and Dale Shea, culinary arts.

CLC students also performed well in team competitions, taking home three gold medals. Winners included Andrew Carrasco and Julia Kraus, mechatronics; Lindsey Clements, Zulma Mendoza and Yahaira Garcia, crime scene investigation and Jackie Herrick and Kenzie Ruhnke, preschool interactive display.