CTECS Students Earn National Recognition at 2025 SkillsUSA Championships

July 1, 2025


Students from the Connecticut Technical Education and Career System (CTECS) demonstrated their talent and technical expertise at the 2025 SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference, held this June in Atlanta. The event brought together the top career and technical education (CTE) students from across the country to compete in more than 100 skilled trades, leadership, and technical contests.

Representing Connecticut on the national stage, CTECS students competed in areas including electronics, computer-aided drafting, precision machining, medical assisting, and culinary arts. Each contest is designed and judged by industry professionals to reflect real-world standards and skill requirements.

The annual SkillsUSA Championships welcomes middle school, high school, and postsecondary students, offering a platform to showcase their mastery of industry-based competencies. CTECS students proved themselves among the best, earning medals, honors, and valuable prizes such as scholarships and professional-grade tools to help launch their careers.

SkillsUSA supports student success through its Framework, which emphasizes the development of personal, workplace, and technical skills rooted in academics—preparing the next generation of skilled professionals to lead and thrive.

This year, CTECS proudly celebrated seven gold medalists, which included both individual champions and a team honored in the Models of Excellence category. In addition, four students earned top-five national placements, with another four placing in the top ten, and six more securing spots in the top twenty.

Gold Medalists – 1st Place

  • Austin Fish – Bristol Technical Education Center; Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration
  • Jasdeep Singh – H.C. Wilcox Technical High School; Technical Computer Applications
  • Gavin Croy – Norwich Technical High School; Electronics Technology
  • Marissa Rodriguez – Vinal Technical High School; Customer Service
  • Brody Devanney & Kayla Guaillazaca Lata – Oliver Wolcott Technical High School; Models of Excellence (Team) Led by advisor Royal Allard IV

Top 5 National Finalists

  • Kate Esquero & Mason Gardner – Grasso Technical High School; Video Production – 5th
  • Tyler Moriarty – Howell Cheney Technical High School; Automotive Service Technology – 5th
  • Hayley Rosario – Emmett O’Brien Technical High School; Technical Drafting – 5th

Top 10 Finishers

  • Anita Budge, Anthony Knapp, & Alyssa Stahovec-Duntz – Oliver Wolcott Technical High School; Community Service – 8th
  • Kayla Fear – H.H. Ellis Technical High School; Masonry – 10th

Top 20 Honorees

  • Kailie Carpentier – H.H. Ellis Technical High School; Job Interview – 11th
  • Laila Zekaroui – Wilcox Technical High School; Graphic Communications – 12th
  • Brandon Hovanak – Oliver Wolcott Technical High School; Plumbing – 16th
  • Mateusz Kotapka – Eli Whitney Technical High School; CNC 3-Axis Milling Programmer – 17th
  • Laila Asani – Oliver Wolcott Technical High School; Nurse Assisting – 17th
  • Brianna Perrin – Emmett O’Brien Technical High School; Medical Terminology – 17th