Phelps students win gold at SkillsUSA nationals

Students from Phelps High School recently earned gold in the Chapter Display contest at the 2025 SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference, held June 23–27 in Atlanta, Ga.

Alivia Jones, Jodie Grasse, and Raelee Steeno, under the guidance of advisor Dustin Spink, took first place for their creative and values-driven display. The original team also included Johanna Siegel, an exchange student who returned to Germany before the national event and was unable to attend.

This year’s conference centered around the theme “Igniting Potential.” To bring that concept to life, the students designed an interactive display featuring pillars made from painted PVC pipe, each labeled with one of SkillsUSA’s core values.

Inside each pillar, a voice box plays student-recorded narrations at the press of a button, offering personal reflections on what each value means to them. At the center of the installation stands a glowing 3D fire sculpture, illuminated by LED lights.

After earning first place at the state competition in Madison in April, the team relied on strong community support to reach the national stage. Sunrise Lodge hosted a breakfast fundraiser, and the Phelps/Land O’ Lakes Lions Club donated funds to help cover travel expenses.

In an earlier interview with the News-Review, Spink — a tech ed teacher in the Phelps School District — expressed pride in the chapter’s participation, noting that the conference helps students overcome personal challenges and build confidence. Phelps High School is one of the few area schools to take part in the competition.

SkillsUSA is a national workforce development organization that prepares students for careers by building technical skills and essential workplace traits like leadership, teamwork, and professionalism across more than 130 occupational areas.