Students at the Fairfield Career Center turned in a strong performance at this year’s local SkillsUSA contest, held January 9–16, earning 123 total placements, including 46 first-place finishes. The competition gave students the opportunity to showcase the technical skills, leadership, and professionalism they’ve developed throughout the year.
Events spanned multiple career pathways. Criminal Justice students competed in senior and junior divisions, with the Honor Guard demonstrating precision and teamwork. Quiz Bowl and Health Knowledge Bowl tested students’ knowledge under pressure, while Welding, Welding Fabrication, and Maintenance and Light Repair competitors highlighted their hands-on technical abilities. Leadership contests such as Community Service and S.T.A.R. Job Demonstration emphasized communication and career readiness.
Most qualifying students will advance to regional competition on March 13, where the top four finishers in each event will earn an invitation to compete at the state level. A few contests advance directly to the SkillsUSA State Championships, which will be held May 5–6.
The local contest provided students with a real-world opportunity to apply their classroom learning in a competitive setting and highlighted the strong instruction happening across Fairfield Career Center programs.
About SkillsUSA
SkillsUSA is the #1 workforce development organization for students, empowering them to become skilled professionals, career-ready leaders and responsible community members. SkillsUSA represents more than 443,000 career and technical education students and teachers in middle schools, high schools and college/postsecondary institutions nationwide. Those members represent 130 in-demand occupational areas, from 3-D animation to welding. A vital solution to the skills gap, SkillsUSA has served 15.6 million members since its founding in 1965. Learn more at skillsusa.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.
Results
(name, year, home school, program, event, place)
* advancing to regionals
^ advancing to state
Devin Anderson (Sr., Pickerington North HS, Criminal Justice, Criminal Justice, 1st) *
Lucian Johns (Sr., Teays Valley HS, Criminal Justice, Criminal Justice, 2nd)
James Dennett (Sr., Pickerington North HS. Criminal Justice, Criminal Justice, 3rd)
Trevin Boyer (Jr., Reynoldsburg HS BELL Academy, Criminal Justice, Criminal Justice-JR, 1st) *
John Crow (Jr., Fisher Catholic HS, Criminal Justice, Criminal Justice-JR, 2nd)
Starria Goetz (Jr., Reynoldsburg HS Encore Academy, Criminal Justice, Criminal Justice-JR, 3rd)
Jay Wellman (Sr., Fairfield Union HS, Criminal Justice, Crime Scene Investigation, 1st) *
Savannah Benson (Sr., Liberty Union HS, Criminal Justice, Crime Scene Investigation, 1st) *
Ava Vacca (Sr., Pickerington Central HS, Criminal Justice, Crime Scene Investigation, 1st) *
Jake Kulich (Sr., Teays Valley HS, Automotive, Automotive Service Technology, 1st) *
Braden Strawser (Sr., Amanda-Clearcreek HS, Automotive, Automotive Service Technology, 2nd)
Landon Johnson (Sr., Teays Valley HS, Automotive, Automotive Service Technology, 3rd) *
John Young (Jr., Amanda-Clearcreek HS, Automotive, Maintenance and Light Repair, 1st) *
Gabriel Thompson (Jr., Amanda-Clearcreek HS, Automotive, Maintenance and Light Repair, 2nd) *
Jose Ramirez Dominguez (Jr., Whitehall Yearling HS, Automotive, Maintenance and Light Repair, 3rd)
Sally Jabang (Jr., Gahanna Lincoln HS, Pre-Nursing, Nurse Assisting, 1st) ^
Brittany Quintana Bautista (Jr., Whitehall Yearling HS, Pre-Nursing, Nurse Assisting, 2nd) ^
Hope Ingram (Jr., Bexley HS, Pre-Nursing, Nurse Assisting, 3rd) ^
Lanissa Leon (Jr., Homeschooled, Pre-Nursing Medical Terminology, 2nd) *
Riley Griffin (Jr., Canal Winchester HS, Pre-Nursing, Medical Terminology, 3rd) *
Zoey Raby (Jr., Amanda-Clearcreek HS, Pre-Nursing, Medical Math, 1st) *
Annaleigh Passmore (Sr., Teays Valley HS, Pre-Nursing, Medical Math, 2nd) *
Maameyaa Okyere (Jr., Groveport Madison HS, Pre-Nursing, Medical Math, 3rd) *
Dashanda Hernandez Bernal (Sr., Reynoldsburg HS Encore Academy, Pre-Nursing, Health Knowledge Bowl, 1st) *
Cassady Fannin (Sr., Groveport Madison HS, Pre-Nursing, Health Knowledge Bowl, 1st) *
Ronisha Bhattarai (Sr., Reynoldsburg HS Encore Academy, Pre-Nursing, Health Knowledge Bowl, 1st) *
Reeya Tiwari (Sr., Reynoldsburg HS Encore Academy, Pre-Nursing, Health Knowledge Bowl, 1st) *
Zoe Burns (Jr., Pickerington Central HS, Pre-Nursing, Health Knowledge Bowl, 2nd) *
Jeynaba Talla (Jr., Whitehall Yearling, Pre-Nursing, Health Knowledge Bowl, 2nd) *
Sydney Baughman (Sr., Fairfield Union HS, Pre-Nursing, Health Knowledge Bowl, 3rd)
Maria Siers (Sr., Teays Valley HS, Pre-Nursing, Health Knowledge Bowl, 3rd)
Gwendolyn Thirion (Sr., Fairfield Union HS, Pre-Nursing, Health Knowledge Bowl, 3rd)
Keaton Plank (Sr., Amanda-Clearcreek HS, Pre-Nursing, Health Knowledge Bowl, 3rd)
Kriti Dhungel (Sr., Canal Winchester HS, Dental Assisting, Dental Assisting, 1st) ^
Banjo Burgoon (Sr., Amanda-Clearcreek HS, Dental Assisting, Dental Assisting, 2nd) ^
Avery Jones (Sr., Pickerington Central HS, Dental Assisting, Dental Assisting, 3rd) ^
Tyler Teal (Jr., Fairfield Union HS, Cosmetology, Cosmetology, 1st) *
Rilynn Pickens (Sr., Hamilton Township HS, Cosmetology, Cosmetology, 2nd) *
Kylie Monroe (Jr., Bloom-Carroll HS, Cosmetology, Cosmetology, 3rd)
Skylar Whaley-Lanning (Sr., Pickerington Central HS, Cosmetology, Esthetics, 1st) *
Auija Ramey (Jr., Reynoldsburg HS Encore Adamdemy, Cosmetology, Esthetics, 2nd)
Zoe Fisher (Sr., Homeschooled, Cosmetology, Esthetics, 3rd) *
Abubacarr Sanneh (Sr., Reynoldsburg HS BELL Academy, HVAC, HVAC/R-Senior, 1st) ^
Jacob Esber (Sr., Pickerington Central HS, HVAC, HVAC/R-Senior, 2nd)
Phillip Tadros (Sr., Groveport Madison HS, HVAC, HVAC/R-Senior, 3rd)
Aaron Vazquez Marcial (Jr., Whitehall Yearling HS, HVAC, HVAC/R-Junior, 1st)
Ezekiel Peters (Jr., Fairfield Union HS, HVAC, HVAC/R-Junior, 2nd)
Santana Cole (Jr., Canal Winchester HS, HVAC, HVAC/R-Junior, 3rd)
Kyra Smith (Sr., Canal Winchester HS, Criminal Justice, Related Technical Math, 2nd) *
Leilah Mays (Jr., Hamilton Township HS, Cosmetology, Related technical Math, 3rd) *
Elizabeth Fisher (Jr., Hamilton Township HS, Cosmetology, Job Demonstration A, 1st) *
Bri Turner (Jr., Pickerington Central HS, Cosmetology, Job Demonstration A, 2nd) *
Myah Emmers (Jr., Pickerington North HS, Cosmetology, Job Demonstration A, 3rd)
Renee Ingold (Jr., Hamilton Township HS, Pharmacy, Job Demonstration Open, 1st)
Alex Truex (Jr., Pickerington North HS, Powerline, Job Demonstration Open, 2nd) *
David Valle Ceja (Jr., Reynoldsburg HS Encore Academy, Powerline, Job Demonstration Open, 3rd) *
Jay Wellman (Sr., Fairfield Union HS, Criminal Justice, Customer Service, 1st) *
Abbie Connelly (Sr., Canal Winchester HS, Cosmetology, Customer Service, 2nd)
Jasmine Wheaton (Sr., Whitehall Yearling HS, Pre-Nursing, Customer Service, 3rd) *
Katie Richey (Sr., Canal Winchester HR, Criminal Justice, Job Interview, 1st) *
Ciciley Lanza (Sr., Pickerington Central HS, Cosmetology, Job Interview, 2nd) *
Kyra Smith (Sr., Canal Winchester HS, Criminal Justice, Job Interview, 3rd)
Lachele Nicholas (Sr., Pickerington Central HS, Pre-Nursing, Quiz Bowl, 1st) ^
Kulani Seife (Sr., Pickerington North HS, Pre-Nursing, Quiz Bowl, 1st) ^
Kayson Rayford (Sr., Pickerington Central HS, Construction, Quiz Bowl, 1st) ^
Kaliya Bey (Sr., Pickerington Central HS, Pre-Nursing, Quiz Bowl, 1st) ^
Nathaniel Flora (Sr., Reynoldsburg HS Encore Academy, Pre-Nursing, Quiz Bowl, 1st) ^
Abigail Acheampong (Sr., Pickerington North HS, Pre-Nursing, Quiz Bowl, 1st) ^
Janell Aekins (Sr., Gahanna Lincoln HS, Pre-Nursing, Quiz, Bowl, 1st) ^
Brian Ansong (Sr., Groveport Madison HS, Pharmacy, Quiz Bowl, 2nd) ^
Anderson Rei (Sr., Pickerington Central HS, Pharmacy, Quiz Bowl, 2nd) ^
Logan Gray (Sr., Gahanna Lincoln HS, Pharmacy, Quiz Bowl, 2nd) ^
Megan McClain (Jr., Groveport Madison HS, Pharmacy, Quiz Bowl, 2nd) ^
Alaysia Wade-Hamilton (Jr., Reynoldsburg HS BELL Academy, Pharmacy, Quiz Bowl, 3rd)
Miley Schmelzer (Jr., Berne Union HS, Pharmacy, Quiz Bowl, 3rd)
Fatoumata Sow (Jr., Bloom-Carroll HS, Pharmacy, Quiz Bowl, 3rd)
Kira Hubbard (Jr., Canal Winchester HS, Pharmacy, Quiz Bowl, 3rd)
Kinley Craven (Jr., Canal Winchester HS, Pharmacy, Quiz Bowl, 3rd)
Emilia Martin (Jr., Bexley HS, Dental Assisting, Community Service, 1st) ^
Milan Cardwell (Jr., Reynoldsburg HS Encore Academy, Dental Assisting, Community Service, 1st) ^
Rihanna Long (Jr., Pickerington North HS, Dental Assisting, Community Service, 1st) ^
Zoe Fisher (Sr., Homeschooled, Cosmetology, Extemporaneous Speaking, 1st)
Zara Olayori (Jr., Reynoldsburg HS Encore Academy, Pre-Nursing, Extemporaneous Speaking, 2nd) *
Danielle Boahen (Jr., Reynoldsburg HS Encore Academy, Pre-Nursing, Extemporaneous Speaking, 3rd) *
Alayna Leppert (Jr., Amanda-Clearcreek HS, Pre-Nursing, Prepared Speech, 1st) *
Maimouna Diallo (Sr., Reynoldsburg HS BELL Academy, Pre-Nursing, Prepared Speech, 2nd) *
Brady Salyers (Sr., Teays Valley HS, Construction, Prepared Speech, 3rd)
Brayden Woods (Jr., Teays Valley HS, Construction, TeamWorks) *
Austin Scalise (Jr., Teays Valley HS, Construction, TeamWorks) *
Grady Hankinson (Jr., Homeschooled, Construction, TeamWorks) *
Dominic Hoskins (Jr., Liberty Union HS, Construction, TeamWorks) *
Ryan Thesing (Jr., Canal Winchester HS, Construction, TeamWorks) *
Connor Nyahay (Jr., Bloom-Carroll HS, Construction, TeamWorks) *
Sam Wickline (Jr., Amanda-Clearcreek HS, Construction, TeamWorks) *
Scott Heath (Jr., Hamilton Township HS, Construction, TeamWorks) *
Landon Buckey (Sr., Hamilton Township HS, Pre-Nursing, Phlebotomy, 1st) ^
Lynn Jetalam (Sr., Pickerington Central HS, Pre-Nursing, Phlebotomy, 2nd) ^
Blossom Wallace (Sr., Pickerington Central HS, Pre-Nursing, Phlebotomy, 3rd)
Camille Myers (Sr., Teays Valley HS, Cosmetology, Braiding & Hair Design, 2nd)
Cassidy Davis (Jr., Amanda-Clearcreek HS, Cosmetology, Braiding & Hair Design, 3rd)
Victoria Mulholland (Jr., Pickerington Central HS, S.T.A.R., S.T.A.R. Job Demo Junior, 1st)
Prabina Bhattarai (Jr., Reynoldsburg HS Encore Academy, S.T.A.R., S.T.A.R. Job Demo Junior, 2nd)
Ethan Greco (Jr., Bloom-Carroll HS, S.T.A.R., S.T.A.R. Job Demo Junior, 3rd)
Summer Munk (Sr., Canal Winchester HS, S.T.A.R., S.T.A.R Job Demo Senior, 1st)
Zane Blackman (Sr., Pickerington North HS, S.T.A.R., S.T.A.R. Job Demo Senior, 2nd)
Emily Destadio (Sr., Amanda-Clearcreek HS, S.T.A.R., S.T.A.R. Job Demo Senior, 3rd)
Cathanna Sarweh (Sr., Reynoldsburg HS Encore Academy, Criminal Justice, Criminal Justice Honor Guard, 1st) ^
Abigail Estabillo (Sr., Canal Winchester HS, Criminal Justice, Criminal Justice Honor Guard, 1st) ^
Evan Stoner (Sr., Pickerington North HS, Criminal Justice, Criminal Justice Honor Guard, 1st) ^
Ru’niya Barlow (Sr., Groveport Madison HS, Criminal Justice, Criminal Justice Honor Guard, 1st) ^
Axel Varela Cruz (Sr., Groveport Madison HS, Welding, Welding, 1st) *
Brady Bliss (Sr., Amanda-Clearcreek HS, Welding, Welding Fabrication, 1st) *
Kaden Matson (Sr., Berne Union HS, Welding, Welding Fabrication, 1st) *
Tim Hunt (Sr., Amanda-Clearcreek HS, Welding, Welding Fabrication, 1st) *