Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia Collision Repair Students Soar at State Level

by Alana Quartuccio

Today’s students can use all the help and support they can get as they work their way to becoming tomorrow’s technicians.

That’s why local SkillsUSA competitions are so very important as they allow students the opportunity to showcase their skills at the state level, giving them a chance to go for the gold.

This year, students from Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia excelled in their areas of expertise, some of them making it all the way to the national SkillsUSA competition in Atlanta, GA in June.

Congratulations to all the winners! 

MARYLAND

AUTOMOTIVE REFINISHING WINNERS

First Place: Jennifer Tippett (Dr. James A. Forrest Career & Tech Center; Leonardtown, MD) 

Second Place: Rylei Reid (Center of Applied Tech North; Severn, MD)

Third Place: Isabella Hartwig (Carroll County Career & Tech Center; Westminster, MD)

COLLISION DAMAGE APPRAISAL WINNERS 

First Place: Lucas Knaub (Center of Applied Tech North; Severn, MD)

Second Place: Carlos Alvarado (Thomas Edison High School of Technology; Silver Spring, MD)

Third Place: Ashley Vasquez (Thomas Edison High School of Technology; Silver Spring, MD) 

COLLISION REPAIR TECHNOLOGY WINNERS 

First Place: Tolulope Adegoke (Thomas Edison High School of Technology; Silver Spring, MD)

Second Place: Brian Feltham (Frederick County Career & Tech Center; Frederick, MD)

Third Place: Joselyn Benitez (Thomas Edison High School of Technology; Silver Spring, MD) 

This year’s competition took place at Mudgett’s Auto Body (Finksburg, MD). Justin Mudgett (Mudgett’s Auto Body) served as chair of collision repair, Matt Pratt (Top Coat Garage) was the automotive refinishing chair, and Tim Hession (GEICO) was the chair of damage appraisal competition. 

“All the students did an amazing job,” says Mudgett. “You can tell the teachers and schools really worked with the students to prepare. I would like to thank all of our staff, judges, sponsors, vendors, teachers and parents who made this event possible for the students. We are all looking forward to the competition next year.” 

Special thanks go to the sponsors for this year’s competition: Auto Collision Specialist, Jeff Barnes Collision, RBS Auto/Trailer Sales, Staley’s Body Shop, Auto Paint Plus, Sherwin Williams/DeBeers/Valspar, B&L Sales, C & O Distributors, Nyquis, LKQ/Keystone, Shaun Stanley and GEICO. 

VIRGINIA 

AUTOMOTIVE REFINISHING WINNERS

First Place: Jennifer Ramos (Northern Neck Technical Center; Warsaw, VA)

Second Place: Tanner Culp (Dowell J. Howard Vocational Center; Winchester, VA)

Third Place: Kenton Szekely (New Horizons Regional Education Center; Hampton, VA) 

COLLISION DAMAGE APPRAISAL WINNERS

First Place: Kallie ONeill (Washington County Career & Tech Ed Center; Abingdon, VA)

Second Place: Casey Ryder (Susie G. Gibson Science & Technology Center; Bedford, VA) 

Third Place: John Perdue (Susie G. Gibson Science & Technology Center; Bedford, VA) 

COLLISION REPAIR TECHNOLOGY WINNERS

First Place: Layla Wilson (Washington County Career & Tech Ed Center; Abingdon, VA)

Second Place: Brandon Lipford (Washington County Career & Tech Ed Center; Abingdon, VA)

Third Place: Michael Swann (Northern Neck Technical Center; Warsaw, VA) 

WEST VIRGINIA

AUTOMOTIVE REFINISHING WINNERS 

First Place: Kenton Haddix (Randolph Technical Center; Elkins, WV)

Second Place: Noah Harold (United Technical Center; Clarksburg, WV)

Third Place: Chris Childers (Mercer County Tech Educational Center; Princeton, WV)

COLLISION DAMAGE APPRAISAL WINNERS

First Place: Ben Lamp (United Technical Center; Clarksburg, WV)

Second Place: Aiden Bailey (Cabell County Career Technology Center; Huntington, WV)

Third Place: Adrian Anderson (Mercer County Tech Educational Center; Princeton, WV) 

COLLISION REPAIR TECHNOLOGY 

First Place (College Level): Payden Pringle (Fred W. Eberle Tech Center; Buckhannon, WV)

First Place (High School Level): Leah Bennett (Fred W. Eberle Tech Center; Buckhannon, WV)

Second Place (High School Level): Mason Hartley (Randolph Technical Center; Elkins, WV) 

Third Place (High School Level): Don Rompon II (Mercer County Tech Educational Center; Princeton, WV)

Want more? Check out the July 2025 issue of Hammer & Dolly!