Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) students excelled at the 2026 SkillsUSA Georgia State Leadership and Skills Conference, Feb. 19-21, in Atlanta.
GNTC competed in seven categories and took home two gold medals, four silver medals and one bronze.
“I am so proud of the accomplishments of our students, they work hard and are provided excellent guidance from their instructors,” said Missy McLain, SkillsUSA advisor for GNTC. “Their success is truly a testament of the great education they are being provided here at GNTC and I am honored to be able to celebrate these successes with them.”
State gold medal winners will represent GNTC and the State of Georgia in the national contest, June 1-5, in Atlanta.
The students tested their abilities in trade, technical, skilled service and health occupations. GNTC sent two teams to the competition; most GNTC contestants competed in individual events. twenty students represented GNTC at the competition.
According to SkillsUSA, the organization serves more than 440,000 career and technical education students and instructors annually and has served 15 million members since 1965. The organization has chapters in middle schools, high schools and college/postsecondary institutions nationally.
Listed below are the gold, silver and bronze medalists including the student’s name, competition and city of residence. Team competitions are listed with the competition name first:
Gold
- Janie Ruiz, Customer Service, Rome
- TeamWorks: Caleb Greeson, Dalton; Jonah Nuckolls, Summerville; Connor Rowell, Rome; and Jackson Woodard, Calhoun
Silver
- Bryan Hernandez, Dalton, Carpentry, Dalton
- Alexander Monroy, Dalton, Masonry
- Timothy Mashburn, Welding, Ringgold
- Welding Fabrication: Hunter Pickle, Chatsworth; Brady Pierce, Chatsworth; and Parker Shepherd, Dalton
Bronze
- Alisha Moss: Job Interview, Cartersville
Georgia Northwestern Technical College delivers high-quality workforce education to the citizens of northwest Georgia. Students can pursue associate degrees, diplomas and certificates in a wide range of career pathways, including aviation, business, health, industrial and public service. Over the past year, 14,082 people benefited from GNTC’s credit and noncredit programs. The college has an annual credit enrollment of 9,342 students and achieved a 100 percent placement rate. An additional 4,740 individuals are served through adult education, continuing education, business and industry training and Georgia Quick Start® programs.
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