The 2026 SkillsUSA district competition wrapped up two weeks ago, with several Bellwood-Antis students medaling, led by senior Dylan Eckenrod, who qualified for states at Hershey in April with a first place finish in the category of Architectural Drafting. He now has a chance to go to nationals in Georgia.
In other categories, Chase Bradford took second place in Automotive Refinishing. Lindsey Brinkman was third e in Dental Assisting, and the team of senior Mckenzie Reed and junior Ava Moore placed third in the health knowledge quiz bowl.
The SkillsUSA competition is an annual structured contest for career and technical students. Competitor test themselves in hands-on competitions and advance through several levels of competition, including regional, state and national, The SkillsUSA Championships serve as the national pinnacle, where over 6,000 state champions compete in well over 100 skilled and leadership events.
Eckenrod’s win in architectural design was special to the senior. His field is a domain that covers and establishes the needs and bases required to create a living space using specific equipment and ingenuity. Despite the technicality of it all, Eckenrod was confident in his abilities.
“It feels great to win SkillsUSA. I came into the competition thinking I was going to win, and I ended up doing that,” he said.
For the contest, he had to prepare professionally drafted architectural construction documents, hand-drawn wall sections, and participate in a multiple-choice exam. He feels the experience will help him in the long run.
“I’m planning on attending Penn State university for Architectural Engineering, so some of the stuff that I completed on the test would relate to the stuff I would be doing in the future,” Eckenrod said.
He plans to finish college and land a job in architecture.
Bradford won first last year in Auto Motive Refinishing before taking second this year. Automotive Design means the process of coating automobiles, after-market automobiles, motorcycles, light and medium-duty trucks and vans that are performed in auto body shops, auto repair shops, production paint shops, new car dealer repair and paint shops, fleet operation repair and paint shops.
Bradford said It felt good to place so high again. “It’s a fun competition and you get to meet lots of different people,” he said.
Bradford had to prep and paint panels, take a test, and write up an estimate.
Brinkman took 3rd place in Dental Assisting, where she was responsible for providing hands-on support to dentists and completing prep work so they can more efficiently care for patients. Their duties included completing intake paperwork and updating patient records, sterilizing and organizing dental tools and assisting during dental procedures.
After obtaining a job last year working in a dentist’s office, Brinkman said she had prepared all summer for this.
“It’s good for people to get over nerves, “she stated. “Getting to practice with people you’re not familiar is very valuable.”
