KDCIA SkillsUSA members bring home medals
Story By Peggy M. Himburg
The SkillsUSA members from the Kevin Dukes Career and Innovation Center brought home ten gold medals, eight silver medals, and 8 bronze medals from the state competition. The 23 National Championship qualifiers will represent Alabama this summer at the SkillsUSA National Competition in Atlanta.
The Opening and Closing Team won the gold medal. Team members are Carlee Collins, Cooper Jones, Sarah Short, Riley Middlebrooks, Jason Giles, Patience Daniel, and Caelyn Person.
Competing in the Automated Manufacturing category were Keegan West, Brantley Davis, and Jillian Crownover who won the gold. The team of Ashton Potts, Madalyn Hughes, and Drake Gant captured the bronze medal.
Gaven Jones won the silver medal in CNC 2 Axis Turning. Gracie Wade captured the gold medal in CNA 3 Axis Milling. Lucas Gifford won the gold medal in CNC 4 Axis Milling. Wyatt Cook won the gold medal in CNC Programmer.
Cheyanne Kessler and Codi Cook won the silver medal in Additive Manufacturing.
JaCo Medical students earned several awards. Capturing the gold medal in Action Skills was Lanie Summers. Haisa Haislip, August McKee, and Paisley Pritchett earned the gold medal in Career Pathway Showcase. Silver medals were won by Julia Wilson in Basic Health Care Skills, Lily McBryar in Health Career Professional Portfolio, and Lily Blevins in Medical Math. Bringing home bronze medals were Lily Rowe in Basic Health Care Skills, Will Yates in Medical Math, and Ivy West in Prepared Speech.
Competing in Industrial Motor Controls, Julia Roberson won the bronze medal and Dalton Rorex earned the silver medal. Dylan Gray won the bronze medal in HVAC.
The KDCIA Team C won the gold medal in Team Works. Team members were Aiaden Hawes, Gavin Mathis, Brock Varner, and Tucker Gibbs. Team B won the bronze medal. Members of that team were Jager Gilber, Cade Gray, Draygun Cash, and Jensen Forshee. Team A members Carson Hancock, Ethan Icenoale, Tommy Steele, and Wesley McKenzie won the silver medal.
Cosmetology students bringing home the gold medal were Seanna Stewart in Cosmetology and Allyson Anderson in Barbering. Gracie Cadorette won the silver medal in Esthetics, and Videlina DeLeon won the bronze medal in Cosmetology.
Olivia Parker was recognized for her service as the Alabama SkillsUSA State Treasurer for the 2024-2025 academic year.
