Albany Technical College Students Capture 5 Gold and 5 Silver Medals at SkillsUSA Georgia State Conference
Albany, Georgia – Albany Technical College students earned 5 Gold Medals and 5 Silver Medals at the 2026 SkillsUSA Georgia State Leadership and Skills Conference held February 19 – 21 at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Atlanta.
Nearly 40 Albany Tech students competed this year, representing more than 15 academic programs offered at the College. Students demonstrated their technical expertise, leadership skills, and professionalism while competing against the top postsecondary talent across the state.
Gold Medalists advancing to the 2026 National Leadership and Skills Conference (June 1-5 in Atlanta) include:
- Eleanor Handwerk – Welding Sculpture
- Chavares Porter – Extemporaneous Speaking
- Nadia Qualls – Esthetics
- Tommy Stewart – Masonry
- Carnal August – Firefighting
Silver Medalists include:
- Christopher Whitaker – Prepared Speech
- James Green – Commercial Roofing
- Vanessa Warren – Cosmetology
- Teairra Clyde – Early Childhood Education
- Erica Vance – Practical Nursing
This year’s SkillsUSA theme, “Champion Your Future,” was embraced by Albany Tech students with their own unified declaration: “We are Champions of Our Future.”
Kenneth Williams, Director of Athletics and Student Life, commended the students and faculty for their commitment to excellence. “Our students represented Albany Technical College with skill, confidence, and professionalism. Competing at this level requires dedication and preparation, and our instructors invested significant time ensuring our students were ready for this opportunity.”
Dr. Emmett Griswold, President of Albany Technical College, also recognized the achievement. “These accomplishments reflect the strength of our programs and the talent of our students. Their performance at the state level highlights the quality of technical education and workforce training delivered at Albany Tech.”
SkillsUSA is a national career and technical student organization that provides education, leadership development, and competitive opportunities for students preparing for careers in skilled trades and service occupations. Founded in 1965 as the Vocational Industrial Clubs of America (VICA), the organization was renamed SkillsUSA in 2009. Members compete at local, state, and national levels in career-related technical events designed to measure real-world workforce readiness.
Albany Tech’s Gold Medalists will advance to compete at the National Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta, June 1 – 5, where they will represent both the College and the state of Georgia on the national stage.
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