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Thomas Edison Students Shine at Maryland SkillsUSA, Advance to Nationals

Posted On April 22, 2026
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Dozens of MCPS Thomas Edison High School of Technology students showed off their skills and expertise at the recent Maryland SkillsUSA competition. Gold Medal winners will go on to compete at the national SkillsUSA competition in Atlanta in June.

SkillsUSA is a national workforce development organization that helps students prepare for careers in technical, skilled and service occupations. Through integrated curriculum and partnerships with industry professionals, students are empowered to become skilled professionals, career-ready leaders and responsible community members.

During the competition, Thomas Edison automotive collision teacher, Dennis Crawford, was named Maryland Advisor of the Year. Below is the list of MCPS recipients by medal won, competition category and home high school.

Gold Medal

  • Telecommunications Cabling, Avi Juneja, Walt Whitman High School
  • Career Pathways–Health Science, Henry Le, Catherine Valenzuela and Aubrey Nguyen, Wheaton High School
  • Career Pathways–Human Services, Marc Boco, Chisom Igwe and Jamie Palacios, Wheaton High School
  • Culinary Arts, Diana Destine, Wheaton High School
  • Esthetics, Jasmine Romero, Montgomery Blair High School
  • Masonry, Jonathan Uscanga Garcia, Montgomery Blair High School
  • IT Services, Pavel Hilliard, Richard Montgomery High School
  • Collision Repair Technology, Tolulope Adegoke, Walter Johnson High School
  • Carpentry, Joseph Spence, Rockville High School
  • Nail Care, Melissa Romero, Springbrook High School
  • Barbering, Johana Munguia Hernandez, James Hubert Blake High School
  • Extemporaneous Speaking, Josephine Melchizedek, Winston Churchill High School
  • HVAC, Yitian Xie, Sherwood High School
  • Internet of Things Smart Home, William Lebby, Richard Montgomery High School
  • Restaurant Service, Selvin Vail Diaz, Montgomery Blair High School
  • Models of Excellence, Alem Bekele, Wheaton High School
  • Models of Excellence, Tharaphi Htun, Wheaton High School

Silver Medal

  • Action Skills, Noah Mitchum, Walter Johnson High School
  • Career Pathways–Health Science, Tiago Ferreira, Mymoon Houndito, and Hlina Araya, Wheaton High School
  • Collision Damage Appraisal, Nathael Avila Aguilar, Wheaton High School
  • Industrial Motor Control, Antonio Ghant, Richard Montgomery High School
  • Masonry, Alessandro Estrada, Northwest High School
  • Medical Math, Kamgharida Ejigou, Walt Whitman High School
  • Promotional Bulletin Board, Diane Mendoza (Sherwood), Taylor Simmonds (Walter Johnson) and Valeria Reyes (Paint Branch) 

Bronze Medal

  • Barbering, Sofia Vinson, Sherwood High School
  • Career and Technical Educator, Egypt Baig, Rockville High School
  • Career Pathways–Health Science, Betanya Belete, Semira Abdellah and Ruth Binyam, Wheaton High School
  • Career Pathways–Human Services, Sandra Sinogo, Setyana Bika and Carolina Valera Ruiz, Wheaton High School
  • Employment Application Process, Tamir Satterwhite, Rockville High School
  • Industrial Motor Control, Shane Corkery, Walter Johnson High School
  • Job Skills Demonstration A, Meke Nigussie, Clarksburg High School
  • Nurse Assisting, Brian Tudor, Walter Johnson High School
  • Related Technical Math, Jose Castro, Wheaton High School
  • Restaurant Service, Selvin Perez Mendoza, Richard Montgomery High School
  • Telecommunications Cabling, Aedan Glasgow, Northwood High School