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Thirty-three high schools from across northwest Georgia competed in the SkillsUSA Region 1 Qualifying Competition hosted by Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) on Friday, Dec. 9. More than 250 competitors represented their schools hoping to qualify for SkillsUSA Georgia being held in Atlanta.
High school contestants competed in 21 different professional skill categories on GNTC’s Walker County Campus in Rock Spring. Contestants placing first, second or third in their respective categories at the regional competition earned a spot in the state competition, except in the TeamWorks and Welding Fabrication categories in which only the top 10 competitors in the state advance to the state competition.
“It is always exciting to have our SkillsUSA Region 1 high schools on campus and watch the excitement of the students competing,” said Missy McLain, GNTC graduation specialist and SkillsUSA advisor. “It is great to be a part of the growth of these students and to watch them excel in their competition events.”
The following students placed in the SkillsUSA Region 1 Qualifying Competition and will advance to the State Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta on March 9-11.
Advertising Design
- First Place: Kathy Truong, Rome High School
- Second Place: Emily Nebb, Calhoun High School
Automotive Service Technology
- First Place: Noah Turner, Gilmer High School
- Second Place: Matthew Hamby, Chattooga High School
- Third Place: Daniel Gibson, Fannin High School
Cabinet Making
- First Place: Easton Vaughn, Chattooga High School
- Second Place: Hayden Hyde, Gordon Central High School
Carpentry
- First Place: Jacob Black, Calhoun High School
- Second Place: Thomas Cook, Rome High School
- Third Place: Wyatt Webb, Chattooga High School
Cosmetology
- First Place: Leanna Wood, Rockmart High School
- Second Place: Alethea Hendrix, LaFayette High School
- Third Place: Meredith Phillips, North Murray High School
Electrical Construction Wiring
- First Place: Joshua Willingham, Chattooga High School
- Second Place: Skyler Hill, Gordon Central High School
- Third Place: Franklin Ramirez, Cedartown High School
Esthetics
- First Place: Railee Shuman, Rockmart High School
- Second Place: Emily Whaley, North Murray High School
- Third Place: Anzleigh Call, Cass High School
Extemporaneous Speaking
- First Place: Cindy Santiago, LaFayette High School
- Second Place: MacKenzie Terry, Model High School
- Third Place: Caleb Davis, Pepperell High School
First AID/CPR
- First Place: Edwin Melendez, Northwest Whitfield High School
- Second Place: Josie Allen, Rockmart High School
- Third Place: Gracey Ferguson, Murray County High School
Job Interview
- First Place: Zion Bradley, Rockmart High School
- Second Place: Madalyn McMurtry, Gilmer High School
- Third Place: Juan Ratia, North Murray High School
Job Skills Demonstration
- First Place: Charles Reyher, Northwest Georgia College and Career Academy
- Second Place: Kamryn Johnston, LaFayette High School
- Third Place: Jaylynn Carlile, Gilmer High School
Job Skills Demonstration Open
- First Place: Gracie Watson, Rockmart High School
- Second Place: Sierra Cunningham, LaFayette High School
- Third Place: Cole Talley, North Murray High School
Masonry
- First Place: Jeffrey Fraire, Gordon Central High School
- Second Place: Lazaro Morales, Rome High School
- Third Place: Ely Childers, Chattooga High School
Pin Design
- First Place: Jenna McCarty, Gordon High School
- Second Place: Abby Kate Turner, Calhoun High School
- Third Place: Lilly Robison, Heritage High School
Plumbing
- First Place: Wade Griffin, Adairsville High School
- Second Place: Raeden Sumner, Chattooga High School
- Third Place: Caleb Hogue, Gordon Central High School
Prepared Speech
- First Place: Rosibel Fuentes, LaFayette High School
- Second Place: Brooklyn Henderson, Fannin County High School
- Third Place: Hadlee Caldwell, Rockmart High School
Quiz Bowl
- First Place: Floyd County College and Career Academy
- Second Place: LaFayette High School
- Third Place: Cherokee High School
T-Shirt Design
- First Place: Isabella Jones, Heritage High School
- Second Place: Sara Gallman, Calhoun High School
- Third Place: Abby Keys, LaFayette High School
Welding
- First Place: Rylan Robinson, Chattooga High School
- Second Place: Tommy Roden, Sonoraville High School
- Third Place: Kris Rooks, Gordon County College and Career Academy
Region T-shirt (not a state qualifying event)
- First Place: Sara Gallman, Calhoun High School
- Second Place: Jazmin Cortes, Northwest Whitfield High School
- Third Place: Neyda Diaz, Northwest Whitfield High School
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