Jorgan Petit Cabrera, who just graduated from LaVergne High School, is now a national champion. Last weekend, students from Rutherford County Schools and others from across the nation gathered in Atlanta, Georgia, for the SkillsUSA national level championship.

The SkillsUSA competition is a career competition event which, according to the SkillsUSA website, showcases the best career and technical education students in the nation.

“For my competition of extemporaneous speaking, I learned how to speak at a professional level in front of many different judges in the communications fields,” Cabrera said. “Round after round I felt exhausted, but I knew I couldn’t give up until I won Gold. Here I stand, not as a regular high school graduate, but as a national champion.” Cabrera, a graduate of the Motlow dual enrollment program, earned his gold medal in extemporaneous speaking, in which contestants are given an assigned topic to speak on with limited time for advanced preparation.

“While at Motlow, Jorgan was also one of the dual enrollment students who earned a 4.0 collegiate GPA.  There were only two students who earned that honor,” said Hope Bakari, assistant principal at LHS who oversees the Early College at Motlow program.

For Cabrera, the competition also presented opportunities for his future. After winning he was offered internship opportunities from companies like Nissan and United Rentals. “In the program, I learned how to connect with industry partners and meet some of the leading professionals in their fields. At the National convention, I learned how to connect with many students from different states that were interested in the same field that I was interested in (Computer Science/Engineering),” Cabrera said.

LHS graduates and cosmetology students Diana Salinas-Evangelista, Luz-Elena Rubio Martinez and Uanna Rezkalla from LHS also performed extremely well at the competition, earning bronze medals in the career pathway showcase.

Additionally, current senior Yulianna Ledesma was elected as a SkillsUSA Tennessee state officer for the 2023-2024 academic year, and she will serve as the state parliamentarian.

“Words cannot begin to express how immensely proud I am of these young ladies,” said Charlise Kinslow, LaVergne High School cosmetology instructor. “These girls became state champions in April, and now they are national bronze medalists.”

Rutherford County Schools continues to lead nationally with its current CTE opportunities and business partnerships. “SkillsUSA gives our students a real-world competitive opportunity to practice the skills they learn in their classroom environment,” said Tyra Pilgrim, CTE director of Rutherford County Schools. “Competing on the national level gives students the opportunity to showcase their talents and make professional connections with industry partners.”