Students from NW Cook County Shine at 2025 SkillsUSA Illinois Champs

DES PLAINES -- Students representing high schools and colleges across Northwest Cook County recently competed and excelled at the 2025 SkillsUSA Illinois Championships held in Peoria. The event, which drew more than 2,000 of the state’s most skilled career and technical education (CTE) students, offered participants the opportunity to demonstrate hands-on abilities in fields ranging from engineering to culinary arts and public safety.

The Championships were hosted April 25–27, bringing together competitors from all corners of Illinois. Northwest Cook County was proudly represented by students from institutions including Wheeling High School, Rolling Meadows High School, and Harper College, and Maine East and West high schools. Competitors took part in more than 140 skilled, leadership, and occupational contests aligned with national career pathways.

Winners from the regional contests are now preparing to advance to the national level, where they will represent Illinois at the 2025 SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference in Atlanta, Georgia this June.

Eric Hill, executive director of SkillsUSA Illinois, praised the student participants for their drive and performance. “Our state’s future workforce is represented in these outstanding students. They’ve shown not only technical talent but also professionalism and determination,” said Hill. “Through SkillsUSA, we are developing the personal, workplace and technical skills that make students career-ready on day one.”

SkillsUSA is a national organization that empowers its student members to become world-class workers and leaders in their fields. The Illinois association works with thousands of students and teachers each year to support CTE development, leadership training, and industry partnerships.

For more information, visit the SkillsUSA Illinois Championships page at www.skillsusaillinois.org/championships.

Results:

Maine East High School (Park Ridge) (NW Cook)

Legislators:

• Senate: Sen. Laura Murphy

• House: Rep. Marty Moylan

Students:

• Tahreem Sayed – Computer Programming (3rd Place)

Maine West High School (Des Plaines) (NW Cook)

Legislators:

• Senate: Sen. Laura Murphy

• House: Rep. Michelle Mussman

Students:

• John Greenwood – Automated Manufacturing Technology (2nd Place)

• Daniel Chavez – Automated Manufacturing Technology (2nd Place)

• Justin Martinez – Automated Manufacturing Technology (2nd Place)

• Nikhil Nair – Automated Manufacturing Technology (3rd Place)

• Austin Khy – Automated Manufacturing Technology (3rd Place)

• Kairav Patel – Automated Manufacturing Technology (3rd Place)

• Ryan Gilbert – CNC 2-Axis Turning Programmer (2nd Place)