Students from Aberdeen High School and Miller Junior High brought home top honors from the 2026 Washington State SkillsUSA Leadership and Skills Conference, held recently in Tacoma.
Students from Aberdeen High School and Miller Junior High brought home top honors from the 2026 Washington State SkillsUSA Leadership and Skills Conference, held recently in Tacoma.
Aberdeen High School senior Luis Mazariegos earned a first-place state title in Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning/Refrigeration (HVAC/R). Teammates Emerson Johnstone and Jaidon Williams also placed in the event, finishing third and fourth, respectively.
Freshman JayCee Kost claimed first place in Extemporaneous Speaking, earning a gold medal and qualifying for the national competition in Atlanta, Georgia. Fellow freshman Emily Dominguez took second place in the Prepared Speech category.
Miller Junior High students also delivered standout performances. Mariana Valerio Souza captured first place in Middle School Prepared Speech, securing a spot at nationals. Aubriel Munoz earned first place in Middle School Pin Design, also qualifying for the national stage.
In the Middle School Team Engineering Challenge, the team of Sophia Norsby, Allison Benson, and Jesse Rodriguez placed first, advancing to nationals. Violet Colburn took first place in Middle School Photography, with Cason Gill earning third in the same category. Elizabeth Emmett added to the team’s success with a second-place finish in Job Demonstration Open.
SkillsUSA advisors for Miller Junior High include Janet Dayton, Rob Burns, and Hailey Pfeifer. Aberdeen High School advisors are Chuck Veloni, Cory Martinson, Travis Wheeler, and Ashley Emmett.
To support students advancing to nationals, the Aberdeen High School and Miller Junior High SkillsUSA clubs will host their 18th annual Cowboy BBQ fundraiser on Wednesday, May 13, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. The event will feature a barbecue chicken dinner with coleslaw, beans, cornbread, and dessert, along with a pledge drive, live and silent auctions, and a 50/50 raffle.
Community members are encouraged to attend and support local students as they prepare to represent Grays Harbor at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta.
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