NCCER Celebrates Student Excellence and Industry Collaboration at SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference
Annual conference brought together thousands of students, educators and industry representatives to celebrate excellence in career and technical education and recognize the achievements of competitors from across the country.
ALACHUA, Fla. — The National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) celebrated its longstanding partnership with SkillsUSA during the 2026 National Leadership & Skills Conference (NLSC).
The annual SkillsUSA NLSC, held each June in Atlanta, brings together students, instructors, industry partners, administrators and supporters from across the country to celebrate excellence in career and technical education. This year’s conference welcomed more than 19,000 attendees, including more than 7,000 state champions competing in 115 skilled and leadership contests.
Beyond the competition floor, the event showcases the incredible strength and the excitement from the construction industry. It brings together passionate volunteers who proudly represent their organizations and give their time to invest in the future of the crafts, demonstrating the industry’s commitment to growing the next generation of our skilled workforce.
“SkillsUSA provides students with the opportunity to demonstrate the technical skills, professionalism and dedication that will shape the future of our industry,” said Boyd Worsham, president and CEO of NCCER. “For 16 years, NCCER has been proud to support the National Carpentry Championship and celebrate the achievements of these talented competitors. This recognition reflects our shared commitment to creating clear pathways for the next generation of construction professionals.”
As part of its continued support of SkillsUSA, NCCER sponsored the 2026 National Carpentry Championship for the 16th year, providing an opportunity for students to showcase their skills through a combination of technical knowledge, hands-on performance and safety practices.
The 2026 National Carpentry Championship was led by Technical Chair David Bates of The Haskell Company and Co‑Technical Chair Boyd Worsham of NCCER. They were supported by a dedicated team of Technical Committee members whose expertise ensured a fair, rigorous, and industry‑aligned competition.
2026 National Carpentry Championship Technical Committee
- David Bates — Technical Chair, The Haskell Company
- Boyd Worsham — Co‑Technical Chair, NCCER
- Tracy Chambers — Nabholz
- Tegan McCullough — Morton Buildings
- Tim Mosley — The Haskell Company
- Lance Simons — The Haskell Company
- Garrett Thompson — Built Brothers
Winners were determined through a written examination and evaluation of a hands-on construction project by a panel of journey-level industry judges. Each competition project was designed to assess the skills and knowledge required for successful entry-level performance as a carpenter, with safety practices and procedures included as a key component of each contestant’s overall score.
2026 National Carpentry Championship Medalists
Secondary Division
- Gold: Isak Bloom, Nashoba Valley Technical High School — Westford, Massachusetts
- Silver: Noah Smith, Spooner High School — Spooner, Wisconsin
- Bronze: Elijah Lucius, Vanguard-Sentinel Career & Technology Centers (Sentinel Campus) — Tiffin, Ohio
Postsecondary Division
- Gold: Deagan Cleveland, Northwood Technical College — Rice Lake, Wisconsin
- Silver: Matthew Goodwin, Alfred State College – School of Applied Technology — Wellsville, New York
- Bronze: Brevan Kenney, Eastern Maine Community College — Bangor, Maine
NCCER congratulates all competitors, instructors, advisors and programs represented at the 2026 National Carpentry Championship. Their commitment to excellence reflects the impact of career and technical education programs and the continued growth of opportunities available in the construction industry.
2026 National Carpentry Championship Sponsors
NCCER extends its sincere appreciation to the organizations whose financial support and prize donations helped make this year’s competition possible.
Platinum Sponsors
- Haskell
- NCCER
- Mortenson
- Kiewit
- ISN
- Brasfield & Gorrie, L.L.C.
- Morton Buildings
- SUNDT
- HEMI Systems
- Swinerton Foundation
Gold Sponsors
- AGC National
- Worley
- Stabila
- CareerSafe
Silver Sponsors
- Pearson
- Nabholz, Inc.
- Kwest Group
- Clark Dietrich
Bronze Sponsors
- Southeast Lineman
- W.G. Yates & Sons
- Cianbro
Tools, Materials and Lumber Sponsors
- DEWALT
- Smith Levels
- Morton Buildings
- Stiletto
- Milwaukee
- Empire
- Ariat
- Colony
- Clark Dietrich
- 84 Lumber
- National Nail
- Big Timber
- Ritz Safety
- Blue Diamond
- Stabila
- NCCER
Additionally, NCCER was recognized as the Nonprofit Partner Champion of the Year. The Nonprofit Partner Champion of the Year award recognizes organizations that demonstrate a strong commitment to advancing career and technical education through collaboration, support and shared goals. Boyd Worsham accepted the award during the annual Advisors Session at NLSC.