Oklahoma SkillsUSA wins 54 medals, celebrates national officer at competition
Oklahoma SkillsUSA students won 54 medals and saw one of their own elected to national office at the 2026 National Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.
Rachel Worthen, a welding student at Autry Technology Center, was elected as a SkillsUSA postsecondary national officer for 2026-27. This is the second year in a row that Oklahoma has had a national postsecondary officer.
The Oklahoma delegation included 402 people, with 257 students competing in 153 contests. They earned 17 gold medals, 29 silver medals and eight bronze medals. More than 16 Oklahoma teams and individuals entered leadership contests, and 71 Oklahoma teams and individuals entered skilled trades competitions.
“Oklahoma continues to set the standard for excellence within SkillsUSA, proving that hard work truly pays off,” said Lauren Holmes, Oklahoma SkillsUSA state adviser.
"We are incredibly proud of all our competitors and grateful for the way they represented SkillsUSA Oklahoma and CareerTech education on the national stage."
For the first time, Oklahoma CareerTech State Director Brent Haken was able to attend the conference and cheer on Oklahoma students, said Renee Reed, CareerTech trade and industrial education state program administrator.
“I am proud of Oklahoma SkillsUSA and the work the students have done to compete on this national stage,” Haken said. “It is an honor to work alongside so many great advisers to continue our mission of developing students for the workplace. SkillsUSA is an ideal evaluation of students’ ability to thrive and develop the skills needed by the businesses and industries that drive Oklahoma.”
The conference drew more than 6,500 competitors from 50 states and two provinces. More than 19,000 competitor, advisers, industry partners, government officials and administrators attended.
SkillsUSA, one of seven co-curricular CareerTech student organizations, is affiliated with trade and industrial education. The other six CTSOs are Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (family and consumer sciences education), FFA (agricultural education), DECA (marketing education), HOSA (health careers education), Business Professionals of America (business and information technology education) and Technology Student Association (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).
Oklahoma CareerTech: Oklahoma’s Workforce Leader
The Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education provides leadership and resources and assures standards of excellence for a comprehensive statewide system of career and technology education. The system offers programs and services in 29 technology center districts operating on 63 campuses, 394 PK-12 school districts, 20 skills centers campuses that include three juvenile facilities and 49 adult education and family literacy providers.
The agency is governed by the State Board of Career and Technology Education and works closely with the State Department of Education and the State Regents for Higher Education to provide a seamless educational system for all Oklahomans.
