Neighbor News
Central Illinois Students Bring Home National SkillsUSA Medals
A look at local student performances from Atlanta, GA, in workforce development competitions.
EAST PEORIA – Students from Central Illinois earned national recognition at the 2025 SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference (NLSC), held June 23–27 in Atlanta, Georgia. Competing against the top career and technical education (CTE) students in the country, three Central Illinois schools brought home medals, including one gold and two bronze.
Liam Dilley from Galesburg Area Vocational Center captured gold in Related Technical Math, making him a national champion in his field. “These gold medalists are national champions in their craft,” said SkillsUSA Illinois Executive Director Eric Hill. “They represent the future of our skilled workforce.”
Illinois Central College student Zane Scott took home a bronze medal in Information Technology Services, and the Heartland Community College team of Nick Mock and Matthew Marciniak won silver in Mechatronics.
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The NLSC brought together over 6,000 of the nation’s top students in skilled trades and technical education. Illinois sent more than 300 students to the national event after advancing from regional and state contests earlier this year.
“This competition isn’t just about medals,” said Hill. “It’s about preparing students for real-world careers and giving them a reason to believe in themselves—and in Illinois.”
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The competition was the final step in a rigorous process that started at the classroom level and culminated in hands-on events judged by industry professionals. Competitions included tasks like bricklaying, engine repair, culinary arts, and engineering technology.
SkillsUSA Illinois programs are supported in part by state funds through the Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship initiative. Governor JB Pritzker approved additional investments for workforce development in the current state budget, allowing SkillsUSA to expand programming to more schools in the coming year.
For a complete list of 2025 SkillsUSA Illinois results and photos from the Atlanta event, visit www.nlsc.skillsusa.org.
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