Western Dakota Technical College (WDTC) students showcased their outstanding career and technical skills at the SkillsUSA South Dakota Skills Championships, April 10–11, in Mitchell. Competing against peers from Lake Area Technical College, Mitchell Technical College, and Southeast Technical College, WDTC students earned top honors—placing in 11 different events and earning an impressive 19 event medals.
WDTC SkillsUSA SD Skills Championship medal winners are as follows:
- Architectural Drafting 1st place: Tia Guptill.
- Automotive Service Technology 1st place: Vincent Hawkins; and 3rd place: Rylan Silbernagel.
- Cybersecurity 1st place: Team A: Haley Erickson, Kjersten Kennedy; and 2nd place: Team B: Casey Clarke, Marshal Haag.
- Internetworking 3rd place: Haley Erickson.
- Information Technology Services 1st place: Anthony Kost; 2nd place: Scott Valentine; and 3rd place: Caitlin Katen.
- HVAC-R 1st place: Trigg Laplante; and 3rd place: Cash Hinzman.
- Plumbing 2nd place: Tyler Hopkins.
- Technical Drafting 1st place: Marvin Mohammed; and 2nd place: Ethan Eliason.
- Welding Individual 1st place: Ayseluna Hockenbary; and 2nd place: Loman Hanson.
- Welding Sculpture 1st place: Ayseluna Hockenbary; and 2nd place: Loman Hanson.
- Welding Fabrication Team W 2nd place: Collin McCracken, Jett Nix, Christian Green.
“WDTC sent 32 students to compete at the annual 2025 SkillsUSA State Leadership and Skills Conference, one of the largest state teams in our college’s history. Our students competed in 11 different contests, winning first or second place in all but one contest in which they competed, said Troy Barry, WDTC Welding and Fabrication Instructor, WDTC SkillsUSA Advisor, Welding Team Coordinator, and SkillsUSA SD Board Member. “Overall, WDTC students earned eight gold medals, seven silver medals, and four bronze medals. This was an outstanding performance by the WDTC student competitors, showcasing their dedication and commitment to their trade, while also demonstrating the quality of their education and career readiness.”
SkillsUSA SD competition gold medal winners qualify to compete in the national SkillsUSA Championships, June 23-27, in Atlanta, Ga.
Ayseluna Hockenbary, WDTC Welding student and double SkillsUSA SD gold medal winner, is the SkillsUSA SD Student Board Secretary.
Barry thanked John Geiman, who is WDTC’s Computer Science Program Director, for his efforts in helping coordinate WDTC’s team. Geiman is also a SkillsUSA SD Board Member. He also expressed gratitude to Chandra Calvert, WDTC Director of Industry Relations and Grant Management, and former SkillsUSA SD Board Member, for assisting with the WDTC team and competitions in Mitchell. Barry also credited the following WDTC faculty for their efforts and accompanying their student teams in Mitchell: Todd Anderson, Architectural and Engineering Technology Program Co-Director; Jason Linneweber, Automotive Technology Instructor; Austin Evans, Computer Science Instructor; and David Eckman, HVAC/R Adjunct Faculty.
The purpose of the SkillsUSA SD competitions is to show students are preparing and/or are ready for careers in manufacturing, transportation, construction, hospitality, and human services. SkillsUSA is considered a talent pipeline and a vital solution to the demand for a skilled workforce.
During the skills competitions, the students worked against the clock and each other, proving their expertise in various occupations. The competitions took place with the help of industry experts, trade associations and labor organizations, and testing competencies set to industry standards.
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Available on the WDTC Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/westerndakotatech/.
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ABOUT WESTERN DAKOTA TECHNICAL COLLEGE
Western Dakota Technical College (WDTC) was established in 1968 and is the only technical college serving the western South Dakota region.
WDTC offers more than 40 programs in various fields, including Business and Computers, Construction and Manufacturing, Energy and Environmental Technologies, Health Sciences, Legal and Public Services, and Transportation Technologies.
Ninety-nine percent of Western Dakota Technical College's most recent graduates are working, continuing their education, or are enlisted in the military per the WDTC 2023 Placement Report. There were 353 respondents out of 399 graduates surveyed. [*Placement information is derived from graduate surveys, faculty-collected data, placement surveys started six months after graduation, and the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation. Overall placement rate is figured by: (responding graduates employed, continuing education, or in military service)/(responding graduates who are seeking employment). The number of program graduates are unduplicated by CIP code.]
Western Dakota Technical College faculty, staff, and administration focus their efforts on helping students gain the skills and experiences they need to succeed. Through hands-on learning, internships, and industry partnerships, WDTC students graduate ready to make a real and immediate contribution to their employers and to their communities.
For information about WDTC, call (800) 544-8765 or (605) 718-2565 or send an email to Admissions@wdt.edu. Visit us on the web at wdt.edu.
