Tennessee SkillsUSA celebrates student excellence at 2026 State Leadership and Skills Conference

SkillsUSA Tennessee’s high school and college/postsecondary divisions co-hosted the 2026 State Leadership and Skills Conference (SLSC) in Chattanooga, bringing together more than 2,000 high school and 1,000 postsecondary SkillsUSA student members and their advisors from across the state to compete, lead, and grow as the next generation of skilled professionals in high-demand careers.

In the college/postsecondary division, the event included 110 skills contests for students across a wide range of career and technical education fields. A total of 335 medals were awarded in the division –151 gold, 100 silver, and 84 bronze medals  – reflecting the statewide high level of competition and achievement. Students earning gold medals will represent Tennessee at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta this summer, competing against the top students from across the nation.

The annual State Leadership and Skills Conference highlights the full mission of SkillsUSA, with students demonstrating not only technical excellence, but also leadership, professionalism, and personal responsibility across a wide range of career pathways. Participants engaged in experiences designed to prepare them for careers, employment and leadership roles in their chosen fields.

The state conference – held March 15–18 at the Chattanooga Convention Center and other locations in the city – also emphasized leadership development through professional skills training, student engagement, and opportunities for participants to build communication, teamwork, and career readiness skills. The high school division featured its own contests for high school and middle school students.

“This conference represents the future of Tennessee’s workforce,” said Daphne Brown, SkillsUSA Tennessee Postsecondary state director and director of CTE student engagement at TBR – The College System of Tennessee. “Our students are not only mastering technical skills, but they are also developing the leadership, work ethic, and adaptability that employers value most.”

The conference was supported by more than 500 industry professionals, technical chairs, judges, and volunteers, whose expertise ensured competitions reflected real-world expectations and industry standards.

Top institutions by medals awarded were:

• Chattanooga State Community College: 42 medals
• Pellissippi State Community College: 41
• Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) Chattanooga: 32
• TCAT Morristown: 20
• TCAT Knoxville: 16
• Northeast State Community College: 15

Individual Award Recipients:

• State Director’s Service Award: Allen Ashlock, TCAT Henry/Carroll
• Outstanding Advisor of the Year: Dr. Sharon Couch, Pellissippi State
• New Advisor of the Year: April Kidd, Chattanooga State
• Administrator of the Year: Ray Aker, Northeast State
• Staff Member of the Year: Sherry Wilson, TCAT Henry/Carroll

College of Excellence Awards recipients were:

• Division 1: TCAT Knoxville
• Division 2: TCAT Chattanooga
• Division 3: Pellissippi State Community College

Medal Count by Institution (College/Postsecondary Division):

Chattanooga State Community College
Gold: 21 | Silver: 11 | Bronze: 10 | Total: 42

Pellissippi State Community College
Gold: 16 | Silver: 15 | Bronze: 10 | Total: 41

TCAT Chattanooga
Gold: 16 | Silver: 11 | Bronze: 5 | Total: 32

TCAT Morristown
Gold: 8 | Silver: 5 | Bronze: 7 | Total: 20

TCAT Knoxville
Gold: 8 | Silver: 3 | Bronze: 5 | Total: 16

Northeast State Community College
Gold: 8 | Silver: 3 | Bronze: 4 | Total: 15

TCAT Hartsville
Gold: 7 | Silver: 5 | Bronze: 2 | Total: 14

TCAT Northwest
Gold: 4 | Silver: 8 | Bronze: 2 | Total: 14

TCAT Henry/Carroll
Gold: 7 | Silver: 4 | Bronze: 2 | Total: 13

TCAT Hohenwald
Gold: 6 | Bronze: 6 | Total: 12

TCAT Crump
Gold: 6 | Silver: 4 | Bronze: 2 | Total: 12

TCAT Memphis
Gold: 10 | Bronze: 1 | Total: 11

TCAT Nashville
Gold: 1 | Silver: 5 | Bronze: 4 | Total: 10

TCAT Dickson
Gold: 2 | Silver: 1 | Bronze: 7 | Total: 10

Volunteer State Community College
Gold: 2 | Silver: 5 | Bronze: 2 | Total: 9

TCAT Upper Cumberland
Gold: 3 | Silver: 5 | Bronze: 1 | Total: 9

TCAT Elizabethton
Silver: 6 | Bronze: 2 | Total: 8

TCAT Shelbyville
Gold: 6 | Bronze: 1 | Total: 7

Motlow State Community College
Gold: 2 | Bronze: 4 | Total: 6

Southern Adventist University
Gold: 2 | Silver: 2 | Bronze: 2 | Total: 6

TCAT Oneida/Huntsville
Gold: 5 | Total: 5

TCAT Murfreesboro
Gold: 2 | Silver: 3 | Total: 5

Cleveland State Community College
Gold: 1 | Silver: 1 | Bronze: 2 | Total: 4

University of Tennessee Chattanooga
Gold: 4 | Total: 4

Chattanooga Masonry College
Gold: 1 | Bronze: 1 | Total: 2

TCAT Pulaski
Gold: 1 | Silver: 1 | Total: 2

TCAT Livingston
Gold: 2 | Total: 2

TCAT Jackson
Bronze: 1 | Total: 1

TCAT Harriman
Silver: 1 | Total: 1

Master Masonry Training Greene County
Silver: 1 | Total: 1

TCAT McMinnville
Bronze: 1 | Total: 1

The conference also included a TECHSPO event where industry partners engaged directly with students to share career opportunities, provided insight into workforce expectations, and built connections with future talent. It also included student-led professional development sessions focused on leadership, communication, and career readiness.

The conference was made possible through strong partnerships with leading industry organizations, including Ford, Hiller, Nissan, and Magna, whose support helps ensure both technical training and leadership development align with current workforce needs.

Other awards included:

Centerpiece Awards: TCAT Hohenwald and Pellissippi State Community College

Spirit Awards: TCAT Hartsville and Pellissippi State Community College

Chapters of Excellence Program: Quality Chapters - TCAT Athens, TCAT Elizabethton, Nashville State Community College, TCAT Crump, TCAT Harriman, TCAT Jackson, and TCAT McMinnville.  Chapters of Distinction Silver Level – Pellissippi State Community College, Chattanooga State Community College, TCAT Hohenwald, TCAT Chattanooga, TCAT Knoxville, TCAT Northwest, TCAT Memphis, and Northeast State Community College. Gold Level – TCAT Henry/Carroll, TCAT Pulaski, and TCAT Hartsville.