National Leadership and Skills Conference

Minnesota SkillsUSA made a powerful impression at the 2026 SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference (NLSC) in Atlanta, Georgia, June 1–5. More than 19,000 students, educators, industry partners, and workforce leaders from across the nation gathered for the largest showcase of America’s future skilled workforce. The week celebrated career and technical education, leadership, innovation, and the skills students need to succeed in today’s workforce.

Minnesota was proudly represented by 76 student competitors and 27 advisors. These students earned their opportunity to compete at the national level by demonstrating excellence at the Minnesota State Leadership & Skills Conference. They joined more than 7,000 state champions from across the country competing in the SkillsUSA Championships, which featured 115 skilled and leadership competitions. Competitions showcased a wide range of career pathways, including automotive, construction, welding, healthcare, cosmetology, culinary arts, robotics, leadership, and many other technical fields.

The 2026 NLSC was an incredible week of competition, learning, leadership, and connection. Minnesota students competed against some of the best career and technical education students in the nation while gaining valuable experience working alongside industry professionals and other SkillsUSA members from across the country.

And Minnesota brought home some impressive hardware! Minnesota earned one gold medal, four silver medals, and four bronze medals, with nine Minnesota students recognized on stage as national medalists. In addition, 29 other Minnesota competitors finished in the national Top 10, bringing Minnesota’s total number of Top 10 finishes to 38.

The conference also provided students and advisors with opportunities beyond the competition floor. SkillsUSA TECHSPO, one of the nation’s largest technical education trade shows, featured 242 exhibits from industry and education partners. Students had the opportunity to explore new technologies, connect with employers, learn about career opportunities, and see firsthand the innovations shaping today’s workforce.

Minnesota also had six state officers participate in Leverage, a national leadership experience designed to help SkillsUSA student leaders strengthen their facilitation and leadership skills.

The 2026 NLSC demonstrated what SkillsUSA is all about—students putting their technical skills to the test, developing leadership abilities, connecting with industry, and preparing to become skilled professionals, career-ready leaders, and responsible community members.

Minnesota SkillsUSA is incredibly proud of every student, advisor, industry partner, and supporter who helped make the 2026 NLSC experience a success. These students represented Minnesota with skill, professionalism, and pride—and they showed the nation what Minnesota’s skilled workforce of tomorrow can do!

View National Event Website

Contestants and advisors can view their Detailed Scores using their contestant number, and date of birth.

In addition to competition success, six Minnesota State Officers traveled to Atlanta early to attend Leverage, a specialized leadership training program designed to develop personal and professional skills in young leaders. During this experience, they deepened their understanding of leadership roles and team dynamics, preparing them for their responsibilities throughout the year.

These officers also proudly served as voting delegates during the national delegate sessions, helping elect the 2026–2027 SkillsUSA National Officer Team, and representing Minnesota on a national stage with professionalism and poise.

PLEASE NOTE: To see a list of medalist winners from the National conference, go to www.skillsusa.org and select "Medalist list." You can see the winners by contest, state, or full listing.