OH students competed at the SkillsUSA State Leadership & Skills Conference in Peoria on April 24, winning a total of six medals including three gold (Katelyn Thilk; baking and pastry arts, Kaleb Stumpenhorst, Addison Terrazas), two silver (Nathan Overstreet; cabinetmaking, Jacob Dillon; masonry), and one bronze medal (Ashely Dauderman; baking and pastry arts) in various competitions. From these awards, four students have the opportunity to compete at the Atlanta SkillsUSA National Competition in early June.
In April, OH students tested their technical skills and career readiness against students statewide through high-pressure, hands-on competitions designed to reflect real-world industry standards.
“It’s a great opportunity for all high school kids and even post-secondary students to just compete and do things that you love,” said OH senior Stumpenhorst, who won First Place for Cabinetmaking.
Preparation for the conference required months of training and practice as students refined their skills in their respective trades. Competitors spent hours rehearsing table setups, practicing customer interactions, and completing full culinary simulations to prepare for the pressure of competition.
“I would come in on days we didn’t have school and practice table setup, practice writing checks, writing menus, talking to people, posture: a bunch of little things that I think really got me more of the points,” said OH senior Addison Terrazas, who won First Place for Restaurant Services.
The competition atmosphere in Peoria challenged students to perform under pressure while meeting strict deadlines and being evaluated by industry professionals.
“It’s really loud, a lot of pressure. You got to do good, and then you got to just be able to finish your stuff on time,” Stumpenhorst said.
Teachers and mentors also played a key role in preparing students for the event by helping them build both technical knowledge and professionalism before entering the competition.
“The teacher here at Oswego, Mr. Dwyer, he’s a great teacher, and he knows a lot about culinary. He was in the business for a long time, and he’s taught me a lot,” said OH junior Lucas Burke, who competed in Culinary Arts.
Beyond the competition itself, students said the experience strengthened friendships and created a supportive team environment throughout the season.
“We became such good friends, and we’re really just very brother-sister-like, we bicker, but we’re such good friends, and we all support each other so much,” said Terrazas.
Students said the experience gave them valuable insight into their future careers while teaching them the importance of teamwork in competitive environments.
“It was very good to have that competitive mindset, but also know how to be a team player,” said Terrazas.
As the competition came to a close, OH students left Peoria with more than medals and experience — they gained confidence, industry knowledge, and skills that will help shape their futures beyond high school.
Hi, I'm Poppy -- a high school student at OHS. Who is very passionate about biomedical science and aviation, who also enjoys creative projects and exploring new ideas. You can contact me by emailing 42Fifty@sd308.org and putting my name in the subject line. We welcome comments on our articles and feedback on our publication!
I'm a senior at OHS and it's my first year as a journalist. I hope to go to school for directing and screenwriting. I plan on mostly writing about movies and video games, and most nerd stuff. You can contact me by emailing 42Fifty@sd308.org and putting my name in the subject line. We welcome comments on our articles and feedback on our publication!
