Cape CTC student wins national SkillsUSA championship, makes program history

FOX23 News at 9 p.m

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., (KBSI) — Several students from the Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center competed at the 2026 SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta, representing Missouri among the nation’s top career and technical education students.

The students earned their spots at the national competition after advancing through state-level contests and spent months preparing for the event.

Cape CTC’s national competitors included Christian Bollinger in Computer Programming, Desiray Lewis in Early Childhood Education, Angelo Brooker and Colton Williams in Photography, Gavin Mercer in Restaurant Service, and Elizanna Hahn and Aleyah Perez in Web Design and Development.

Lewis made school history by winning a gold medal in Early Childhood Education, becoming the first student in Cape CTC’s Early Childhood Education program to earn a national championship at SkillsUSA.

The achievement came during the final year in the classroom for Early Childhood Education instructor Kara LeGrand, who will transition this fall to serve as Cape CTC’s assistant director of secondary programs.

School officials praised all of the students for their dedication, professionalism and representation of Cape Girardeau on the national stage.