NANTICOKE — The Winter Olympics in Northeastern Italy are still a month away, but the “Olympics of the Trades” have already come to Northeastern Pennsylvania.
SkillsUSA, a nationwide workforce-development organization, held its Pennsylvania District 1 competition at Luzerne County Community College on Thursday. Around 250 students hailing from 10 high schools and career and technical programs descended on the LCCC main campus to brandish their skills in 37 trade and technical-based challenges.
Tom Czachor, a member of the SkillsUSA Board of Directors and a cybersecurity teacher at the Career Technology Center of Lackawanna County, said the competition highlighted the breadth of the skills students have an opportunity to learn at vocational programs.
Hazleton Area Career Center student Zachary Niznek works in the machine shop during the District 1 SkillsUSA Regional Competition held at Luzerne County Community College in Nanticoke Thursday, January 8, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Among the many disciplines tested Thursday were those in advertising design; automotive maintenance; baking and culinary arts; cosmetology; criminal justice and crime scene investigation; early childhood education; electrical construction; health and medicine; and welding. Competitions were held across the LCCC campus and nearby sites.
“It used to be carpentry and cars,” Czachor said. “Now, you name it, we probably do it.”
LCCC President John Yudichak said the day’s event complemented the college’s commitment to vocational education amidst a great statewide need for more workers in the trade. He noted that LCCC last year received a $1 million state grant to launch its Career & Technology Academy. Success at the SkillsUSA can often lead to scholarship opportunities, organizers said.
Lackawanna Trail and Susquehanna County Career & Technology Center student Caley Ryan works on a vehicle during the District 1 SkillsUSA Regional Competition held at Luzerne County Community College in Nanticoke Thursday, January 8, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
“The business and industries of Northeastern Pennsylvania need you,” Yudichak said to competitors during his opening remarks. “All of you are building something very important – confidence in yourself and a brighter economic future for Pennsylvania.”
Students were enthusiastic to put that wide-range of skills on display.
“I’m really hoping to impress some of my teachers back at CTC,” said Isaac Quiros, a Lackawanna County CTC student. “(My teacher) kind of ‘volun-told’ me to go into the automotive-service technology (contest), because I thrive really well in the technology field.”
Delaware Valley student Shawn Havens works on an engine during the District 1 SkillsUSA Regional Competition held at Luzerne County Community College in Nanticoke Thursday, January 8, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Semper Kurtonic, a 17-year-old Peckville resident, was competing in an automotive-maintenance competition. He both works as a technician and is also a student at Lackawanna County CTC.
“As a full-time technician in the real world, I would like to put my knowledge and my real-life work experience to the test, to see just how good I am compared to how other people from technical schools do,” Kurtonic said.
Sydney Martin, an 18-year-old Hanover Twp. resident and student at the Wilkes-Barre Career & Technical Center, participated in the medical-terminology competition. She said she was proud to represent her school at the regionwide competition.
West Side Career and Technology Center student Amelia Teasdale prepares to cut a piece of metal during the District 1 SkillsUSA Regional Competition held at Luzerne County Community College in Nanticoke Thursday, January 8, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
“It’s a really great opportunity, because I know there’s only a few people that get to go and are picked…it feels like a lot of pressure sometimes, but it feels really good nonetheless,” Martin said. “It makes me feel a lot better and more confident going into the nursing field.”
“It’s really an honor to be competing here,” said Marianny Fabian, a 17-year-old Hazleton resident and student at the Hazleton Area Career Center. “It was a little bit scary at first, but after you’re here, it goes so quick.”
Most students took pride in being able to represent their schools at the regional tournament.
West Side Career and Technology Center student James King cuts a piece of metal during the District 1 SkillsUSA Regional Competition held at Luzerne County Community College in Nanticoke Thursday, January 8, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
“My family, we’ve lived in Carbon County for quite a while,” said Chris Garey, an 18-year-old student at Carbon Career & Technical Institute competing in automotive maintenance. “We have a great school that we go to…and I hope I can keep the legacy going.”
Hannah Stanavage, a 16-year-old Hazleton resident and Hazleton Area student participating in the Health Knowledge bowl, said she was excited to exchange ideas with her classmates and peers across Northeastern Pennsylvania.
“I was asked if I could compete and I said ‘of course’ because I love coming and helping out and I’m having a lot of fun,” Stanavage said. “It helps showcase what we know and then we can learn from others as well.”
Carbon Career and Technical Institute student Lucas Miller diagnoses a series of parallel circuits in the automotive department during the District 1 SkillsUSA Regional Competition held at Luzerne County Community College in Nanticoke Thursday, January 8, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
“Even though you’re competing, you get to learn from other students’ knowledge,” added 16-year-old Keiry Mendoza, another Hazleton Area student in the Health Knowledge Bowl.
Some at the challenges compared it to sports storied tournaments. Dean Gouldthorpe, a 17-year-old student at Delaware Valley High School and wrestler, was participating in a plumbing competition.
“It just really lets me show… I know what I know, I’m able to perform under pressure,” Gouldthorpe said.
The tournament also allowed students to display strengths that may not be readily apparent in their day-to-day school work.
Michael Hillier, an 18-year-old Dimock resident who attends the Susquehanna County Career & Technology Center for carpentry, was participating in the extemporaneous-speaking contest – a challenge in which students had a few minutes to prepare a speech based on a key word. With ambitions of becoming a defense attorney, Hillier said he was excited to compete with his classmates.
“This means a lot to me and it means a lot to showcase my ability to articulate my words and prove to other people that I’m more than just a carpenter,” Hillier said. “So, being able to have a competition that speaks to my strengths really means a lot to me, personally.”
The gold-medal winners at the district competition will advance in April to the SkillsUSA Pennsylvania state competition in Hershey. The state champions will in turn advance in June to the SkillsUSA national competition in Atlanta.