Seventeen students from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College won at the state SkillsUSA competitions held in Jackson on February 28 and March 1, 2017. Students participating in the competition are from career and technical programs at the George County Center and the Jackson County, Jefferson Davis and Perkinston campuses.

Winners from the George County Center are Karma Cone, of Leakesville, and Anne-Marie Graham, of Richton, first place, Occupational Health & Safety team; and Robin Knox, of Pascagoula, second place, Prepared Speech.

The Jackson County Campus winner is Mary Majchrzak, of Ocean Springs, first place, Welding Sculpture.

Winners from the Jefferson Davis Campus are Timothy Clark, of Diamondhead, first place, Collision Repair; Diana Overman, of Biloxi, first place, Commercial Baking;  Marcus Walley, of Vancleave, first place, Computer Networking; Melisa Hamilton, of Lucedale, first place, Culinary Arts, Rachel Barattini, of Poplarville, first place, Restaurant Service; Jiequel Williams, of Gulfport, second place Automotive Refinishing; Ethan Riley, of Perkinston, second place, Electrical Construction Wiring; Josh Adkison, of Biloxi, third place, Automotive Service; Timothy Hebert, of D’Iberville, third place, HVAC; Kevin Owens, of Gulf Shores, third place, Industrial Motor Control; and Terrence Plainer, of Pascagoula, third place, Information Technology Services. 

Perkinston Campus winners are Khalil Markham, of Biloxi, first place, Prepared Speech, and Mitchell Mackenzie, of Long Beach, second place, Information Technology Services.

In all, MGCCC students won nine first place awards and eight second and third place awards.

SkillsUSA will hold the 53rd annual National Leadership and Skills Conference (NLSC), a showcase of career and technical education students, in Louisville, Ky., on June 19-23, 2017. More than 16,000 people — including students, teachers and business partners — are expected to participate in the weeklong event.