Eight students from the Regional Occupational Center and Career Technical Education Center (ROC CTEC) in Bakersfield represented California on the national stage last month, showcasing their skills at the 2025 SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference (NLSC) in Atlanta, Georgia.
The students qualified for the national competition after earning gold medals at the California SkillsUSA Championships earlier this year. At nationals, they competed among more than 6,500 students from across the country in what is considered one of the most prestigious career and technical education (CTE) showcases in the nation.
Held annually, the SkillsUSA NLSC attracts over 18,000 participants and includes 108 competitive events spanning trade, technical, and leadership fields. Each competition is developed and judged by industry professionals, ensuring alignment with current workforce standards.
ROC CTEC students participated in a range of skilled categories, including Automotive Refinishing Technology, Commercial Roofing, Masonry, Technical Computer Applications, and Advertising Design. They also demonstrated leadership and innovation in the Career Pathway Showcase for Arts & Communication, presenting projects that bridged classroom learning with industry application.
All eight ROC CTEC students placed in the top 15 nationally in their respective events—an impressive accomplishment that reflects both their hard work and the strength of Kern High School District’s CTE programming.
The SkillsUSA Championships is open to middle school, high school, and college/postsecondary students who are active members of the organization. Supported by industry partners, trade associations, and labor unions, the event helps students prepare for success in high-demand careers through hands-on competition and leadership development.
To learn more about SkillsUSA, visit www.skillsusa.org.
Representing Kern High School District and the state of California, ROC CTEC’s competitors were:
- Aileen Urias
- Zackery Bulnes
- Priscilla Calderon
- Janet Luo
- Garrett Hutchins
- Julian Morua
- Ashlyn Johnson
- Fatima Garcia Aguilera
By Robert Meszaros
Rob Meszaros is Director of Communications for the Kern County Superintendent of Schools, where he has served since 2012. In his role, Meszaros oversees media relations, internal and external communication strategies, publications, Marcom, branding, and multi-media content creation. Before joining KCSOS, Meszaros was the PIO for CSU Bakersfield and earlier worked for seven years at The Bakersfield Californian.