When an interest in automotive technology led her to consider courses in high school, Noemi Castro wondered if her gender could be an obstacle. It wasn’t. Through SkillsUSA, she quickly found a confidence-igniting spark that’s led to a full-throttle career.

The way SkillsUSA conducts our competitions might have temporarily changed as a result of the global pandemic, but one thing hasn’t: Earning a medal as a SkillsUSA Championships competitor is the same “kind-of-a-big-deal” it’s always been. Our 2021 Insider’s Guide could help you find your way to the virtual medal stage.

A chance invitation from a SkillsUSA instructor helped Anthony Mitchell realize there were more opportunities in life than he’d ever dreamed possible. He hasn’t just taken advantage of those opportunities; he shares them with his community.

EvaMarie Downs operated a thriving business in the culinary arts field she loved, but the pandemic threatened to derail her dreams. Undaunted, Downs used what she’d learned as a SkillsUSA student to adapt her business to the current environment, ensuring that the immunosuppressed people she serves in her California county are living — and eating — well.

Glori Beaufort was a member of SkillsUSA in high school, but found ways to stay involved after graduation. We sit down with her to discuss her experiences as a SkillsUSA member and how the skills learned there have helped her as a professional photographer.

Dave Curry is helping to continue the legacy of a Hershey, Pa., icon while changing the face of career and technical education at home and nationwide.