South Suburban Students Excel: SkillsUSA Illinois State Championships

ROMEOVILLE -- The South Suburbs proudly showcased their talent and technical expertise at the 2025 SkillsUSA Illinois Championships, with students achieving statewide recognition for their skills in areas like digital media, cosmetology, and health sciences. Schools from the region earned accolades, highlighting the strength of career and technical education programs in the area.

Hosted in Peoria, the SkillsUSA Illinois Championships gathered over 2,000 student competitors from high schools and colleges across the state. Each student competed in hands-on, real-world contests representing more than 100 career and technical education (CTE) pathways, from digital cinema production to firefighting and first aid.

“Our mission is to prepare students for careers that are both essential and rewarding,” said Eric Hill, Executive Director of SkillsUSA Illinois. “The students from the South Suburbs demonstrate that with the right training and support, they can compete at the highest level and succeed.”

At the Kankakee Area Career Center, students earned multiple awards in disciplines such as Nail Care and Digital Cinema Production. These accomplishments underscore the dedication of South Suburban educators and industry partners who continue to invest in the future workforce.

SkillsUSA competitions aren’t just about earning medals—they’re about building confidence, mastering technical skills, and making connections with professionals from across the state and nation. Many of these contests are judged by industry experts and align with national industry standards, giving students valuable experience and exposure to real-world expectations.

The strong performance by South Suburban students not only earned them gold, silver, and bronze medals, but also the opportunity to advance to the SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference in Atlanta this June, where they will compete with top talent from across the country.

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

Results:

Argo Community High School (Summit) (South Suburbs)

Legislators:

• Senate: Sen. John Curran, Sen. Mike Porfirio

• House: Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid, Rep. Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar

Students:

• Davin Oalmann – Graphic Imaging Sublimation (1st Place)

• Alexis Carlisle – Robotics: Urban Search and Rescue (2nd Place)

• Gabriela Huzior – Robotics: Urban Search and Rescue (2nd Place)

Bloom Township High School (Chicago Heights) (South Suburbs)

Legislators:

• Senate: Sen. Napoleon Harris, Sen. Patrick Joyce

• House: Rep. Anthony DeLuca, Rep. Thaddeus Jones

Students:

• Daniel Catalan – Carpentry (3rd Place)

Bloom Trail High School (Chicago Heights) (South Suburbs)

Legislators:

• Senate: Sen. Napoleon Harris, Sen. Patrick Joyce

• House: Rep. Anthony DeLuca, Rep. Thaddeus Jones

Students:

• Natalie De La Torre – Fashion Design - Illinois (3rd Place)

• Diya Patel – Medical Assisting (3rd Place)

Bolingbrook High School (Bolingbrook) (South Suburbs)

Legislators:

• Senate: Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel, Sen. Rachel Ventura

• House: Rep. Dagmara Avelar, Rep. Natalie Manley

Students:

• Addisen Thomas – Aviation Maintenance Technology (3rd Place)

• Eva Mannings – Career Pathways Showcase: Industrial and Engineering Technology (1st Place)

• Randi Vervack – Career Pathways Showcase: Industrial and Engineering Technology (1st Place)

• Claudia Ramirez-Guillen – Career Pathways Showcase: Industrial and Engineering Technology (1st Place)

• Brandon Dohmeier – Computer Programming (1st Place)

• Dylan Hoag – Electronics Technology (2nd Place)

• Britney Sanchez-Velazquez – Practical Nursing (2nd Place)

• Camila Valerio – Practical Nursing (3rd Place)

Carl Sandburg High School (Orland Park) (South Suburbs)

Legislators:

• Senate: Sen. Bill Cunningham

• House: Rep. Kelly Burke, Rep. Mary Gill

Students:

• Jane Chan – Customer Service (2nd Place)

• Jane Chan – Extemporaneous Speaking (2nd Place)

• Kennedy Boshardt – Fashion Design - Illinois (1st Place)

• Jane Chan – Job Interview (1st Place)

• Cara Broderick – Job Skill Demonstration A (2nd Place)

Homewood-Flossmoor High School (Flossmoor) (South Suburbs)

Legislators:

• Senate: Sen. Napoleon Harris

• House: Rep. Will Davis

Students:

• Mason Kleinfelder – Automobile Maintenance and Light Repair (2nd Place)

• Charley Dieringer – CNC 2-Axis Turning Programmer (1st Place)

• Charley Dieringer – CNC 3-Axis Milling Programmer (1st Place)

Joliet Central High School (Joliet) (South Suburbs)

Legislators:

• Senate: Sen. Rachel Ventura

• House: Rep. Larry Walsh Jr.

Students:

• Ozziel Lara – Technical Drafting (2nd Place)

• Juan Rociles Alvarado – Technical Drafting (3rd Place)

• Tyler Rolenc – Welding (3rd Place)

Joliet Junior College (Joliet) (South Suburbs)

Legislators:

• Senate: Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel, Sen. Rachel Ventura

• House: Rep. Dagmara Avelar, Rep. Larry Walsh Jr.

Students:

• Angel Martinez – Welding (1st Place)

• Carter Nass – Welding (3rd Place)

Joliet West High School (Joliet) (South Suburbs)

Legislators:

• Senate: Sen. Rachel Ventura

• House: Rep. Larry Walsh Jr.

Students:

• Calloway Walsh – Prepared Speech (1st Place)

Lincoln-Way East High School (Frankfort) (South Suburbs)

Legislators:

• Senate: Sen. Mike Hastings

• House: Rep. Patrick Sheehan

Students:

• Nikolas Gier – American Spirit (2nd Place)

• Fracisco Piedra – American Spirit (2nd Place)

• Ben Bacon – American Spirit (2nd Place)

• Jeffrey Brewer – Automobile Maintenance and Light Repair (3rd Place)

• Fracisco Piedra – Job Skill Demonstration A (1st Place)

Lincoln-Way West High School (New Lenox) (South Suburbs)

Legislators:

• Senate: Sen. Patrick Joyce

• House: Rep. Anthony DeLuca

Students:

• Josephine Roedl – Woodworking Display - Illinois (1st Place)

• Sean Eakin – Woodworking Display - Illinois (2nd Place)

Lockport Township High School (Lockport) (South Suburbs)

Legislators:

• Senate: Sen. Mike Hastings, Sen. Rachel Ventura

• House: Rep. Dagmara Avelar, Rep. Patrick Sheehan

Students:

• Biviana Hernandez Santana – 3-D Animation and Visualization (1st Place)

• Matthew Khamou – 3-D Animation and Visualization (1st Place)

• Ethan Foss – 3-D Animation and Visualization (3rd Place)

• Dylan James Williams – 3-D Animation and Visualization (3rd Place)

• Stephen Reuter – Engineering Technology Design (1st Place)

• Samuel Drong – Engineering Technology Design (1st Place)

• Gavin Leone – Engineering Technology Design (1st Place)

• Max Brassfield – Engineering Technology Design (2nd Place)

• Liam Zimmerman – Engineering Technology Design (2nd Place)

• Colton Witzig – Engineering Technology Design (2nd Place)

• Averi Colella – Power Equipment Technology (1st Place)

• Josslyn Casey – TeamWorks (2nd Place)

• Justin Ohotzke – TeamWorks (2nd Place)

• Jacob Morandi – TeamWorks (2nd Place)

• Ryan Donohue – TeamWorks (2nd Place)

• Duncan Kenney Benson – Technical Drafting (1st Place)

Peotone High School (Peotone) (South Suburbs)

Legislators:

• Senate: Sen. Napoleon Harris

• House: Rep. Thaddeus Jones

Students:

• George Dalen – Creative Photography Display - Illinois (3rd Place)

• Kaleb Schirmer – Woodworking Display - Illinois (3rd Place)

Peotone Junior High School (Peotone) (South Suburbs)

Legislators:

• Senate: Sen. Napoleon Harris

• House: Rep. Thaddeus Jones

Students:

• Shane Lynch – Additive Manufacturing (1st Place)

• Logan Cowger – Additive Manufacturing (1st Place)

• Jaida DeMoss – Extemporaneous Speaking (2nd Place)

• Jaida DeMoss – Job Skill Demonstration OPEN (2nd Place)

• Jaida DeMoss – Prepared Speech (2nd Place)

• Quinn McCleverty – Promotional Bulletin Board (1st Place)

• Jaida DeMoss – Promotional Bulletin Board (1st Place)

• Asher Brandau – Promotional Bulletin Board (1st Place)

• Asher Brandau – Robotics: Urban Search and Rescue (1st Place)

• Thomas Zdznicki – Robotics: Urban Search and Rescue (1st Place)

• Shane Lynch – Robotics: Urban Search and Rescue (3rd Place)

• Logan Cowger – Robotics: Urban Search and Rescue (3rd Place)

• Jaida DeMoss – Team Engineering Challenge (3rd Place)

• Quinn McCleverty – Team Engineering Challenge (3rd Place)

• Kohen Schirmer – Team Engineering Challenge (3rd Place)

Romeoville High School (Romeoville) (South Suburbs)

Legislators:

• Senate: Sen. Rachel Ventura

• House: Rep. Dagmara Avelar

Students:

• Mateo Hernandez – Barbering (2nd Place)

• Ethan Lee – Heavy Equipment Operator (3rd Place)

Thornton Fractional Center (Calumet City) (South Suburbs)

Legislators:

• Senate: Sen. Elgie Sims

• House: Rep. Marcus Evans

Students:

• Myles Wiley – Collision Repair Technology (2nd Place)

• Diego Gomez – Collision Repair Technology (3rd Place)

Victor J. Andrew High School (Tinley Park) (South Suburbs)

Legislators:

• Senate: Sen. Mike Hastings

• House: Rep. Justin Slaughter, Rep. Patrick Sheehan

Students:

• Ava Mikos – Early Childhood Education (2nd Place)

• Ellie Conneely – Early Childhood Education (3rd Place)

Wilco Area Career Center (Romeoville) (South Suburbs)

Legislators:

• Senate: Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel, Sen. Rachel Ventura

• House: Rep. Dagmara Avelar, Rep. Natalie Manley

Students:

• Daniel Janusz – Criminal Justice (1st Place)

• Evan Margalus – Welding (1st Place)