Dallas College Richland Campus students brought home a remarkable number of medals from this year’s SkillsUSA Texas State Leadership and Skills Conference.
The annual event, held in Corpus Christi this spring, gathered thousands of students from across the state to compete in dozens of career and technical skill categories, from engineering design and health sciences to public speaking and cybersecurity. Representing Richland, students competed against peers from high schools, colleges and technical institutions and excelled across multiple divisions.
Richland Campus sent 24 student competitors to participate in 15 competitions at the SkillsUSA Texas State Conference. Students medaled in 14 out of 15 competitions. Richland earned a total of 32 medals: 23 gold, 6 silver and 3 bronze. Gold medals were awarded in 13 different competitions, including Chapter Business Procedure and Promotional Bulletin Board.
“My Time at SkillsUSA was a new, yet great experience exuding a challenging and talented energy, yet an overwhelming one considering how outclassed I felt,” said Caleb Giddings, an illustration major at Richland who won gold in Community Action. “Still, it was a great experience indeed.”
SkillsUSA Texas is part of a national organization that connects students, teachers and industry professionals with the shared goal of preparing America’s future workforce. The program emphasizes hands-on learning, technical skill-building, leadership development and career readiness across 12 career cluster areas, according to their website.
For students at Richland, the event was not just about winning but about applying what they’ve learned in real-world and competitive environments.
“Taking students to SkillsUSA has been one of the most rewarding experiences of the year,” said Kelly Sonnanstine, the SkillsUSA advisor. “Watching them grow in confidence, sharpen their skills, and represent their school with pride has been inspiring.”
Many of Richland’s medalists have now qualified for SkillsUSA Nationals, which will be held in Atlanta this June.
“Every competition, workshop, and leadership session provided opportunities for personal and professional growth,” Ms. Sonnanstine said. “I’m proud to have been part of their journey.”
