SkillsUSA Regional Draws Over 160 Competitors to San Juan College

More than 160 competitors representing nine schools converged on San Juan College on November 18 for the SkillsUSA Regional Competition, a full day of practical testing and skills demonstrations in automotive and diesel trades. Registration began at 8 a.m., competitions ran through midafternoon, and an awards ceremony followed, marking the culmination of contests that included Automotive Service Excellence certification areas and other hands on trade challenges.

Organizers positioned the event as both a competition and a showcase for career technical education across the Four Corners and beyond. Students competed in timed, standards based assessments that mirror industry expectations and that can qualify participants for state and national advancement. College and program leaders highlighted the regional pipeline to the workforce and pointed to a recent national level win by a college student as evidence of the program's effectiveness in preparing job ready graduates.

For local residents the competition underscored practical pathways from high school and college classrooms to well paid technical jobs. ASE certifications are widely recognized by employers in the automotive and diesel sectors, and performance at regional contests can translate into direct hiring opportunities, apprenticeship placements, and reduced time to certification for students entering the labor market. The event also offers participating schools a way to benchmark their career technical programs against peers and to connect students with potential employers and training partners.

San Juan College has emphasized workforce training as a core institutional role, and hosting the SkillsUSA regional reinforced that identity. The college provided facilities and oversight for hands on exams that require specialized equipment and shop space, resources that smaller programs sometimes struggle to maintain. By centralizing the region's competition, the college supports collaboration among secondary and postsecondary partners, and strengthens the continuum from classroom to workplace.

The regional competition also serves as a civic and economic touchpoint. Local employers gain visibility into the skills pipeline, school administrators assess program outcomes, and policymakers can observe the return on investments in career technical education. For students the stakes include not only medals and trophies but also credentialing that matters for hiring and career advancement.

As competitors move on to state level events and some pursue national competition, the regional contest will remain a key milestone for San Juan County's technical education landscape. The event demonstrated active collaboration between education providers and the trades, and reinforced the college's role in preparing the next generation of skilled workers for the region.