Casper College students score gold at 2026 SkillsUSA Wyoming State Championship
STATE CHAMPIONS: Casper College students and instructors celebrate their success at the 2026 SkillsUSA Wyoming State Championships. Pictured in the back row (l-r) are Jason Eggemeyer, Katelyn Moeller, Jackson Berg, Ashur Logan, and Howard McNiven. Pictured in the front row (l-r) are Vince Acquistapace, Hannah Kerkes, Kim Bjornstad, Fionna Kerkes, Chloe Pruitt, and Paul Brutsman. Both Eggemeyer and Brutsman are engineering and technology design instructors at Casper College. (Courtesy photo)
Casper College students earned top honors at the 2026 SkillsUSA Wyoming State Competition and will head to the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference, June 1-5, in Atlanta. In Atlanta, students from across the United States compete as teams and individually in a wide range of career and technical fields.
Casper College students won five gold medals in the following categories: Pin Design, Fionna Kerkes; Job Interview, Katelyn Moeller; Technical Drafting, Howard McNiven; Architectural Drafting, Kim Bjornstad; and Electrical Wiring, Jerred Moore. “These outstanding achievements underscore the college’s deep commitment to hands-on learning, industry readiness, and student success,” said Rachel Chadderdon, dean of the Casper College School of Business and Industry.
Two silver medals were won, one by a three-person team in Automated Manufacturing, consisting of Hannah Kerkes, Vince Acquistapace, and McNiven. Acquistapace also won an individual silver medal in CNC Programmer.
Finally, the team of Ashur Logan, Chloe Pruitt, and Jackson Berg won bronze in Welding Fabrications, while Nash Nelson took bronze in Automotive Service.
Other Casper College students who competed included Corbin Branscom in Automotive Refinishing and Collin Stafford and Sebastian Vega in Automotive Service.
“We are absolutely thrilled that our talented students have qualified for the SkillsUSA national competition in Atlanta,” said Chadderdon. “This is a testament to their hard work and commitment, as well as to the outstanding quality of our programs and the dedication of our exceptional instructors at Casper College.”
According to SkillsUSA, SkillsUSA’s National Leadership and Skills Conference is the largest gathering of America’s future skilled workforce and the ultimate recognition of excellence in career and technical education. The event brings together more than 19,000 attendees, including students, instructors, industry partners, government officials, administrators, and more. The highlight of the SkillsUSA Championships is when more than 6,500 state champions compete for national gold, silver, and bronze medals in 114 skilled and leadership competitions.
At a Glance:
- Announcement Focus: Press release announcing that Casper College students earned top honors at the 2026 SkillsUSA Wyoming State Competition, including five gold, two silver, and one bronze medal.
- Key Participants: Award winners Fionna Kerkes, Katelyn Moeller, Howard McNiven, Kim Bjornstad, Jerred Moore, Hannah Kerkes, Vince Acquistapace, Ashur Logan, Chloe Pruitt, Jackson Berg, and Nash Nelson. Supported by Rachel Chadderdon, dean of the Casper College School of Business and Industry.
- Logistics: The announcement celebrates the conclusion of the state championships and previews the upcoming SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference, June 1–5, 2026, in Atlanta, Georgia.