Angel with her 2024 SkillsUSA national bronze medal in Restaurant Service. She says skill competition is addictive. Photo: NTU Marketing Dept.
When Navajo Technical University (NTU) student Angel Joe won the bronze medal in Restaurant Service at the 2024 SkillsUSA Championships Restaurant Service competition in Atlanta, she wasn’t discouraged. In fact, earning third in the nation cinched her desire to come back in 2025 and go for the gold!
Angel graduated from NTU last year with an associate degree in culinary arts. Along with her SkillsUSA advisor, Lorena Giesbrecht, they used the national competition to evaluate their program and her ability to manage the front of the house at a fine dining restaurant.
Angel continued her studies this fall and has shown progress and determination during her time in college. Her instructors say she embodies the traits valued at NTU and sets the bar high for peers. Angel has proudly represented the Navajo Nation and SkillsUSA New Mexico, showcasing her passion for the restaurant service industry with unwavering dedication and rigorous home practice demonstrating her commitment to achieve standards of excellence. Her next goal? Competing once again in Restaurant Service in 2025 and hoping to sweep both the state and national events to earn a gold medal.
SkillsUSA advisor Lorena Giesbrecht— herself a two-time national college/postsecondary Restaurant Service medalist and a 2018-2019 SkillsUSA national officer and now a university employee — has served as Angel’s competition mentor, having been through the process herself. She says, “Angel has devoted herself to prepare for competition, demonstrating exceptional skills and dedication. She looks forward to the intense training and another chance to compete. She hopes to secure a national gold medal and possibly even qualify for the next WorldSkills USA team. Everyone here in the culinary arts department at NTU wholeheartedly supports her.”
Lorena Giesbrecht shown with her own national
college/postsecondary silver medal in in 2016.
The Restaurant Service competition includes a variety of front of the house tasks ranging from managing reservations and greeting guests to proper table setup, menu presentation, taking orders, serving each course and ensuring a seamless dining experience. The competitors are evaluated on these tasks as well as their professionalism, knowledge and communication skills.
Angel said of her June 2024 National Leadership & Skills Conference (NLSC) experience in Atlanta, “I loved getting to know people, seeing new places and trying new foods. It was so much fun, and winning a medal at nationals made me incredibly happy. Now that I’ve experienced the thrill of standing on the medalist podium, I want to aim for gold. The competition experience is addictive and I’m hungry for it. I want to win in 2025 for my school and state — but most importantly, for myself — because I believe I can do it. I can’t wait. For now, I’m focused on practicing and improving.”
Angel says “being part of SkillsUSA has been an enriching experience” during her school years. This program has provided me with numerous opportunities in the culinary field including internships.” Join us in watching the medalist podium in 2025 at the NLSC Awards Session to see if Angel reaches her aspiration of being a two-time national medalist!
About Navajo Technical University
NTU in Crownpoint, N.M is the largest tribal college in the country, situated on the Navajo Nation and incorporating Diné culture and language into its curriculum while also offering strong STEM programs. NTU strives to provide an excellent educational experience in a diverse environment that enables students to grow intellectually, culturally and economically. The word “Diné” is a Navajo word that means “the people” and is pronounced “Di Nay”.
