DCTC Students Excel at SkillsUSA Competition

Six people smiling at camera with arms around each other, in front of a car with the hood open.
Pictured L-R: Weston Nichol, Matthew Burg, Ethan Ketterer, instructors Gerry Rainford and Jessica Weaver, and Yezibel Stepp

DCTC teams showed off their technical expertise

Several DCTC students entered the Minnesota SkillsUSA contest, held March 28, 2026. Autobody students competed at the 3M Training Facility in St. Paul, electrical construction students competed at Viking Electric in Minneapolis, and heavy duty truck and heavy construction equipment students competed at Nuss Group Trucking in Monticello.

The students performed well and won several awards.

Transportation:

Peter Welch
Heavy Construction Equipment Technology student

  • Placed third in college-level Diesel Equipment Technology (not pictured)

Ethan Ketterer
Auto Body Collision Technology student

  • Placed first in college-level Collision Repair

Yezibel Stepp
Auto Body Collision Technology student

  • Placed third in college-level Refinishing Application

Matthew Burg
Auto Body Collision Technology PSEO student

  • Placed first in high school-level Collision Repair and Refinishing Application
  • Placed third in high school-level Estimating

Electrical Construction:

Thaddeus Koron
Electrical Construction and Maintenance Technology student

  • Placed first in college-level Electric Wiring

Minnesota SkillsUSA Competition Photo Gallery

About Minnesota SkillsUSA

According to the Minnesota SkillsUSA website:

SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers, and industry working together to ensure America has a future skilled workforce. SkillsUSA helps each student excel and reach his/her/their skilled potential. SkillsUSA Minnesota’s mission is to empower its members to become world-class workers, leaders, and responsible citizens who respect the dignity and ethics of work.

SkillsUSA Minnesota is part of a national organization that serves nearly half a million student members annually. The Minnesota Association has offered leadership and technical training opportunities to over 250,000 student members since 1967. Current state association membership for 2024-2025 was comprised of 550 high school and postsecondary students and professional members.

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