TSTC SkillsUSA gold medalists qualify to move on to national conference in Georgia

(WACO, Texas) - Students at Texas State Technical College's Waco campus won medals in 15 events at the 2024 SkillsUSA Texas Postsecondary State Leadership and Skills Conference held April 18-20 in Houston.

"This year we competed in categories and events with many new advisors, and we did not disappoint," said Abby Ford, TSTC's SkillsUSA coordinator for the Waco campus. "I am tremendously proud of our students and beyond thankful for our advisors."

SkillsUSA is a professional organization focused on employability, leadership and technical skills that can help college students pursue successful careers and be part of a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA has more than 100 leadership and skills categories.

Gold medal-winning students are eligible to advance to the 60th annual SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference being held June 24-28 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Issac Agonizante, of Waco, earned the gold medal in the Collision Repair Technology contest. He is an Auto Collision and Management Technology - Refinishing Specialization student.

He said he used his training in TSTC's Auto Collision and Management Technology program and his experience from working in his father's auto body shop to repair damage on two fenders and two plastic bumpers during the contest.

Agonizante said he is used to the pressure of competitions, having taken part in jiujitsu and baseball when he was younger.

He is excited for his trip to Atlanta, which will be the first time he has ever flown.

"I want to give it my all and try harder," Agonizante said.

Migel Reyes, of Waco, placed first in the Plumbing contest. He is scheduled to graduate on Thursday, May 2, with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Plumbing and Pipefitting Technology at TSTC's Spring 2024 Commencement for the Waco campus.

"I really wanted to get that gold medal," he said. "It's meaningful to me to win first in something."

He said he was speechless when his name was announced.

"I had to look twice at the screen to make sure it was my name," Reyes said. "Last year, I got third. To go from third to first feels great."

He said that during the contest he focused on the neatness of his work, code specifications, and skills such as cementing and gluing PVC pipe together.

Reyes said traveling to Atlanta will be the second time he has ever left Texas and his first time on an airplane.

"I'm looking forward to representing TSTC and Texas," he said. "I am looking forward to bringing the gold back."

Other students receiving medals at the state SkillsUSA conference were:

Gold:

- Additive Manufacturing: James Cook and Joshua Young

- Carpentry Chad Robertson

- Cyber Security: Lukas Garcia and Joseph Miller

- Electrical Construction Wiring: Nathan Mikeska

- Heavy Equipment Operation Demonstration: Jovanni Rubio Contreras

- TeamWorks: Zacarias Felipe, Joshua Lynn, Hayden Mosley, Victor Flores

Silver:

- Architectural Drafting: Talia Colombo

- Electrical Construction Wiring: Carlos Anaya

- Heavy Equipment Operation Demonstration: Caitlyn Glenn

- Plumbing: Joel Chavez

Bronze:

- Architectural Drafting: Joshua Stock

- Carpentry: Jesus Martinez

- CNC Programmer: Kyler Schreier

- Cyber Security: Allison Hope and Jeevee Villanueva

- Heavy Equipment Operation Demonstration: Alfredo Molina

- Industrial Motor Control: Shawn Tousignant

- Plumbing: Fabian Camargo

- Restaurant Service: Karicia Parker

- Technical Drafting: Krystopher Chumak

- Welding Fabrication: Bernardo Meza, Carlos Sanchez, and Axel Villarreal

For more information on SkillsUSA Texas, go to skillsusatx.org.

For more information on TSTC, go to tstc.edu.

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