Golden Valley Grad Wins National SkillsUSA Championship

When Nick “Nico” Patalinghug arrived at the National SkillsUSA Championships in Atlanta earlier this month, he wasn’t thinking about winning.

“I went into this competition saying I would do my best and be happy with whatever place I earned,” he said.

That mindset made what happened next even more surreal.

Patalinghug was standing outside the awards ceremony venue waiting in a security line when a friend who was inside texted him congratulations.

“I was confused. I thought he was lying,” Patalinghug recalled. “Then he called me and told me to hurry up and get to the stage.”

Moments later, the recent Golden Valley High School graduate found himself standing before a mass of fellow competitors and guests as he was named National SkillsUSA Champion in Automotive Refinishing Technology, becoming the first-ever California student to win the title in the category.

“Everything happened so fast. It didn’t feel real at all. To be honest, it still doesn’t feel real. I just feel like Nico,” Patalinghug said with a laugh.

The journey began while Patalinghug was studying Automotive Technology at Kern High School District’s Regional Occupational Center (ROC) during his junior year. Although he enjoyed working on vehicles, he quickly realized his interests were focused on a different part of the industry, Automotive Collision & Refinishing, which he studied the following year. 

Instructor Mario Lizarraga said students in the program learn through hands-on industry training that mirrors a professional collision repair shop. They repair panels, prepare and refinish surfaces, practice spray techniques, learn industry estimating software, complete workplace safety training, and build portfolios that demonstrate real-world skills. It was in that environment that Nico quickly distinguished himself.

What separated Patalinghug, according to Lizarraga, were qualities that cannot easily be taught. He was coachable in the best way, taking feedback and making immediate adjustments. 

“Then he’d take it even further and refine it beyond expectations,” Lizarraga said. 

As he prepared for Nationals, Patalinghug said that while he felt confident in many aspects of the event, one component known as color theory demanded intense preparation. When plans for specialized training in California fell through, he took matters into his own hands.

“When I landed in Atlanta, I spent the whole week studying every day and night,” Patalinghug said. “Literally hours before my competition, I was awake at 3 a.m. studying.”

That dedication paid off when he outperformed competitors from across the country in a series of industry-based challenges designed to replicate real-world collision repair and refinishing work.

He credits much of his success to the community he found at ROC and to Mr. Lizarraga himself. 

“I can go on and on about how much ROC helped prepare me for my future,” Patalinghug said. “But one thing I’ll say is the community. It’s more than just career technical education. ROC was genuinely a second home to me.”

Lizarraga said Patalinghug raised the standard within the program, becoming an example of excellence that motivated younger students and classmates alike. He also emerged as a natural leader in the shop, helping others troubleshoot problems and sharing techniques.

“His success shows what’s possible through career technical education,” Lizarraga said. “A student can go from picking up a spray gun for the first time to becoming a national champion. That’s not luck. That’s access, training, expectations, and opportunity working together.”

Patalinghug is now sharply focused on what comes next. He plans to begin working in the automotive industry as a painter while continuing to develop his skills. His long-term goal is to master production refinishing before moving into custom paint work and building show cars.

For students considering a career technical education pathway, Patalinghug offered simple advice.

“Just do it,” he said. “Don’t stand at the edge of the pool waiting. Dive in, take initiative, and try to learn as much as you can.”