During SkillsUSA’s annual National Leadership & Skills Conference, SkillsUSA student delegates from across the country elect high school and college/postsecondary representatives to serve as student leaders for SkillsUSA as national officers.
SkillsUSA’s national officers are a group of highly motivated and talented students who have been elected to represent their peers at the national level. These officers have demonstrated exceptional leadership skills and a deep commitment to the mission of SkillsUSA. They serve as ambassadors for the organization, leading national events, advocating for SkillsUSA with government officials, and promoting SkillsUSA’s programs and initiatives to students, educators and industry professionals across the country.
These student leaders will make a significant impact in their communities and in the workforce.
The following students were elected at the 2026 National Leadership & Skills Conference:
High School
Robert Emrich, Texas
Christian Galindo, Tennessee
Brayden Hayes, Texas
Katelyn Kessler, West Virginia
Noor Khan, Georgia
Dheeraj Kudikala, California
Daniel Levashki, New Jersey
Mariyana Lords, Massachusetts
Brody Pettipas, North Carolina
Jyotsna Subramanian, Arizona
College/Postsecondary
Cyna Centeno, New Mexico
Curtis Muecke, Wyoming
Brendan Peterson, Utah
Emma Schwantes, Wisconsin
Rachel Worthen, Oklahoma
The primary role of a SkillsUSA National Officer is to serve the organization and its student members at the national level. National officers act in service to more than 444,000 SkillsUSA members by advancing the organization’s mission, vision and strategic direction. As representatives of SkillsUSA, officers promote career and technical education through engagement, communication and leadership.
Service as a national officer carries a high level of responsibility and visibility. Officers are expected to exercise sound judgment, manage competing priorities and collaborate effectively as members of a national leadership team. Through service to students, staff, partners, and stakeholders, national officers help shape the present and future of SkillsUSA and the broader career and technical education community.