April 24, 2026
East Central Community College students earned multiple first- and second-place finishes at the 2026 SkillsUSA State Conference held March 31 through April 2 in Jackson. First-place winners qualified to advance to the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference, which will be held June 1-5 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Students earning first-place honors included:
- Industrial Motor Control – Luke Wilborn, Electrical Technology
- Electrical Construction Wiring – Brady Smith, Electrical Technology
- Welding – Kaitlyn Harrington, Welding & Cutting
- Welding Sculpture – McKenzie Eubanks, Welding & Cutting
- Job Skill Demonstration A – Jeffery Cork
- Job Interview – Hazelle Gianna Esposito, Cosmetology
- Job Skill Demonstration Open – Callie Reed, Cosmetology
- Nail Care – Magnolia De Leon-Perez, Cosmetology
- Prepared Speech – Kaylen Harrison, Cosmetology
- Esthetics – Hadley Savell, Cosmetology
- Culinary Arts – Amirrah Stricklin, Culinary Arts Technology
- Welding Fabrication – Peyton Glass, Cason Mann, and Heath Stelberg, Welding
Students earning second-place honors included:
- Cosmetology – Jodi Ethridge, Cosmetology
SkillsUSA is a national organization that empowers students to become world-class workers, leaders, and responsible American citizens through career and technical education programs. The annual state conference showcases student talent and technical skills through a variety of competitive events.
ECCC congratulates all students who represented the college at the state conference and wishes its national qualifiers the best of luck in Atlanta this summer.
