Wallace State Students Win More Than 40 Medals at Alabama SkillsUSA Competitions

HANCEVILLE, Ala. — Wallace State Community College brought home more than 40 medals from the Alabama SkillsUSA State Leadership Conference and SkillsUSA Championships held at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex.

The medal count included 16 gold medals, 17 silver and 10 bronze medals. The winners of gold medals will have the opportunity to advance the national SkillsUSA championships June 1-5 in Atlanta.

“I want to congratulate our Wallace State students and instructors on an outstanding performance at the SkillsUSA State Competition,” said Jerry Murcks, Dean of Applied Technologies at Wallace State. “Bringing home 43 medals is an incredible accomplishment and a reflection of the hard work, talent and dedication shown by everyone involved.

“I am very proud of our students for their effort and success,” Murcks added. “And I appreciate our instructors for the time, training and support they provide to help students reach this level of achievement. Thank you all for representing Wallace State so well.”

I’m incredibly proud of how our students performed under pressure,” said Justin Burnett, Chair of the Machine Tool Technology program and coordinator of Wallace State’s SkillsUSA events. “SkillsUSA isn’t just about competition; it’s about proving they’re ready for the workforce. The skill, focus and determination they demonstrated speaks volumes about the future of skilled trades in Alabama.”

Wallace State’s SkillsUSA Crime Scene Investigation teams swept the category at the Alabama SkillsUSA Competitions. Pictured from left are Sharlyn Gonzalez, Divani Guerro, Kayla Hawkins, Ashley Gonzalez Zea, Alana Bates, Nayeli Escobedo, Leon Franks and Daniel Mattiace. Not pictured is Brenley Hanners. 

Wallace State Sweeps Crime Scene Investigation Category

Wallace State’s Crime Scene Investigation teams swept that category, finishing with gold, silver and bronze medals. Thea Hall, Chair of the Criminal Justice program, said the teams were selected to compete through a competitive try-out process last year and have been preparing for SkillsUSA since then.

“They have practiced consistently and diligently since that time in preparation for this event,” Hall said. “Their commitment, teamwork and attention to detail resulted in an outstanding sweep of the competition. The achievement reflects the students’ dedication as well as the high standards of our program.”

Wallace State’s Alabama SkillsUSA medal winners include:

Gold Medalists:

CNC programmer: Levi Harris

Commercial Drone: Zach Hudson, Hernan Garcia- Martinez

Crime Scene Investigation: Alana Bates, Leon Franks, Ashley Gozalez Zea

Customer Service: Britney Spears

Medical Terminology: Natalie Ledbetter

Mobile Robotics: Rivakah Cook

Motorcycle Service: Samuel Sikorski

Nurse Assisting: Stephanie Burton

Restaurant Service: Sadie Fallin

Robotics and Automation: Kole Matthews, Ashton MckLesky

Robotics Urban Search and Rescue: Myles Hickman, Quinn Teichmiller

Silver Medalists:

Automated Manufacturing Technology: James Johnson

CNC 3-Axis Milling: Trenton Brooks, Zachary Stewart

CNC 5-Axis Milling: Jared Smith

Crime Scene Investigation: Brenley Hanners, Nayeli Escobedo, Daniel Mattiace

Cyber Security: Abbigail Love, Katrina Thompson Cyber Security

Diesel: Brian Booth

Electrical Construction Wiring: Hunter Matthews

Internetworking: Jon Trammell

Job Interview: Gabriela Green

Mechatronics: Jaun Blanco, Issac Carter

Mobile Robotics: Jordan Mayo

Nail Care: Heather Skelton

Bronze Medalists:

Automated Manufacturing: Colbe Sellers, Matthew Reno

Crime Scene Investigation: Divani Guerrero, Kayla Hawkins, Sharlyn Gonzalez

Diesel: Tabitha Ballenger

Extemporaneous Speaking: David Terry

Mechatronics: Mindy Ditzler, Jacob Massey

Prepared Speech: Dawson Duboise

Registration for the summer and fall semesters is underway, with summer classes begin May 26 and fall classes begin Aug. 17. Visit www.wallacestate.edu for more information or call 256.352.8236 or email lioncentral@wallacestate.edu. 

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About Wallace State

Wallace State Community College (Ala.), a member of the Alabama Community College System, is a comprehensive community college in north central Alabama offering more than 200 options in academic, health and technical programs of study leading to an associate degree, certificate or transfer, as well as workforce-credit training and adult education. An Achieving the Dream Leader College, nationally recognized by the Aspen Institute as a Rising Star for the 2025 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, ranked by Southern Business and Development among the Top 3 institutions in the South for workforce development, named a Center of Excellence by the National League for Nursing and the National Security Administration, rated the Top Online Community College in Alabama, a Military Friendly Institution and an All-Steinway School, Wallace State is an outstanding place for students to pursue their education and career goals. Classes are offered online and on campus, day, evening and on weekends, with numerous start dates each year. Visit Wallace State’s beautiful main campus located on 300-acres in Hanceville, Ala., our satellite location in downtown Oneonta, Ala., find us online at www.wallacestate.edu, or call 256.352.8000.

Wallace State student Sadie Fallin, center, received a gold medal for Restaurant Service and the Alabama SkillsUSA competition and will advance to the national competition. Pictured with Fallin are Wallace State Culinary Arts instructor Dalton Draper, left, and program chair Aaron Nichols.