College of Western Idaho (CWI) students showcased their talents at the 2025 SkillsUSA Idaho State Leadership and Skills Conference [2]! The event, hosted at CWI campus locations including the Nampa Campus Micron Education Center [3] (NMEC) on April 8, saw CWI students from various programs participate in both the leadership and skills competitions where they brought home 14 medals — one bronze, one silver, and 12 gold.

SkillsUSA is a nonprofit organization serving middle school, high school, and college students. In partnering with students, teachers, and industry, the organization works to provide a skilled workforce in America. Welding instructor, James Groat, serves as CWI’s SkillsUSA advisor and is joined by several CWI instructors who act as competition-specific SkillsUSA advisors including JohnD Thompson, Sean McConnachie, Justin Moore, David Kerr, Justin Lund, Ken Sonnen, Jared Hemley, and Mike Wheeler.

Both high school and college students from all over the state of Idaho competed in these events. This gave CWI an opportunity to showcase the equipment, lab space, and student experience to a variety of prospective students and industry partners.

Students competed in several different categories, including Diesel Technology, Information Technology, CNC Machining, Welding Fabrication and Sculpture, Collision Repair, Automotive Maintenance and Light Repair, Robotics, Electronics, Mechatronics, and Drafting.

GOLD

Ashton "Nyxx" Little – Mechatronics (team)
Autumn Harvey – Collision Repair
Cody Toone – Computer Programming
Christian Murdoch – Web Design (team)
Eli Escobar – Power Sports
Frank "Frankie" Ramirez – Welding Sculpture
Gavin Thompson – Diesel Equipment Technology
Irma Parks – Mechatronics (team)
Paula Bingham – CNC Machining
Ryan Posey – Web Design (team)
Tony Ha – Telecommunications Cabling
Zyen Logan – Internetworking

SILVER

Sam McKinley – Internetworking

BRONZE

Matthias Barnes – Programming

Students who received gold medals in their events secured a place at the SkillsUSA National Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, this June. Best of luck to our CWI student delegation traveling to nationals!

Learn About SkillsUSA at CWI [4]