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Mitchell Tech Students Shine at National Skills Competition
16 Jun
Summary
- Nine students from Mitchell Tech represented South Dakota at the SkillsUSA National Conference.
- Students earned four top-three finishes in technical and leadership competitions.
- Competitions test technical skills, teamwork, and problem-solving for future careers.
Nine students from Mitchell Technical College represented South Dakota at the 2026 SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta. This event brought together over 6,800 state champions for intensive technical, skilled, and leadership competitions.
Mitchell Tech students achieved significant success, securing four top-three finishes. Blaine Simantel earned a silver medal in Marine Service Technology, Trevor Boesel took bronze in HVACR, and Sully Shippy and Brenden Wantoch partnered for a bronze in Mechatronics. These achievements underscore the quality of technical education at Mitchell Tech and its role in meeting workforce demands.
SkillsUSA competitions assess students' technical knowledge and practical application, mirroring real-world job challenges. Beyond technical proficiency, the contests evaluate essential professional qualities such as communication, accountability, teamwork, and problem-solving skills, preparing students for successful careers. The conference also provided networking opportunities with industry professionals and employers.
Individual achievements included Simantel's validation of his passion for tinkering, while Caden Waltner, Nathan Hoekman, and River Niewenhuis placed 10th in Welding Fabrication. Josiah Wollman finished 18th in Welding Sculpture. Trevor Boesel was also featured on an ESCO HVAC podcast, discussing industry trends.
