News Summary
Dallas College students showcased their talents at the SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference, winning 18 medals, including gold for outstanding projects. A total of 46 students represented the college, with significant recognition for career and technical education. Noteworthy achievements included collaboration opportunities for gold medalist Minh Kieu in advertising design. The event emphasizes the growing demand for skilled workers and highlights the college’s dedication to preparing students for career success.
Atlanta – Dallas College students showcased their skills at the SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference, bringing home a total of 18 medals from the event held from June 23-27, 2025. The strong performance reflects the dedication and talent of the students, who earned their places in the national competition by securing gold medals at the state level earlier this year.
A total of 46 students represented Dallas College at the conference, where they competed against other top students across the nation. According to college officials, the outcomes highlight the significance of career and technical education (CTE) in preparing students for the current job market. In April 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor reported 7.4 million job openings nationwide and over 596,000 job openings specifically in Texas, underscoring the demand for CTE careers.
Among the gold medalists was Minh Kieu, a recent graduate with an associate degree in digital art and design. Kieu won in the advertising design category by completing six deliverables, including a logo, within six hours. His work garnered interest from a judge, who is a comic book publisher looking to collaborate with him. Kieu noted that participation in SkillsUSA helped him expand his network and increase his confidence to kick-start his career.
Medal Achievements
The following students received gold medals:
- Minh Kieu – Advertising Design
- Khai Huynh, Moise Steeve, Saho Zabzi, Mohammed Khan – Chapter Display
- Caleb Giddings, Harrison Nguyen – Community Action Project
Silver medals were awarded to:
- Brook Tilahun, Jason Tejeda, Ryan Lee, Noor AlRubaye, Kent Ho – Chapter Business Procedure
- Norma Salinas – Facilithon: Leadership in Facility Management
Bronze medalists included:
- Courtney Chaney, Eboni Johnson, Ariana Ross, Morgan Deanna Barnes – Entrepreneurship
- Rosemary Pate – Restaurant Service
Career Opportunities and Industry Recognition
Dr. Maria Boccalandro, dean of special academic programs at Dallas College, highlighted that several students received job offers from industry judges during the competitions. Additionally, some students earned full-ride scholarships to universities and were awarded professional tools and equipment from industry sponsors.
Dallas College is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2025 and serves over 127,000 students annually. The institution offers more than 100 areas of study and degrees, including bachelor’s degrees in education, nursing, and software development. It also stands as the largest provider of dual credit in Texas, serving approximately 30,000 high school students through various dual credit programs.
Historic Achievements and Future Prospects
The SkillsUSA program at Dallas College has seen continued success over the years, particularly under Dr. Boccalandro’s leadership. The program has showcased the exceptional skills and readiness of its students for the workforce. Notably, Alexa Garcia-Alexander became the first female from Garland ISD and the first female in Texas to win the state competition in motorcycle service technology.
Moreover, Jesse Serrano and Shaina Albert gained first place in the video game development category at the 2023 SkillsUSA National Conference, competing against over 6,500 other students. In support of CTE initiatives, Dallas College recently received a Skills Development Fund grant amounting to $1,009,383 from the Texas Workforce Commission, aimed at training over 600 workers in various fields.
As Dallas College continues to foster talent and provide quality education, its students remain well-prepared to meet the demands of an evolving job market.
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Additional Resources
- NTXE News: Dallas College SkillsUSA Achievements
- Wikipedia: SkillsUSA
- Community College Daily: Building Confidence
- Google Search: Career Technical Education
- Local Profile: Collin College SkillsUSA Winners
- Google Scholar: SkillsUSA
- Dallas News: Career College Dallas
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Vocational Education
