Two Northwood Technical College students returned from Atlanta with national honors after competing against the country’s top skilled trades students at the 2026 SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference, held June 1-5.
Deagan Cleveland, of Spooner, captured the national championship in carpentry, while Edward Brannon, of Osceola, earned a third-place finish in cabinetmaking at the SkillsUSA Championships, one of the nation’s largest showcases of career and technical education students.
Both students qualified for nationals after earning first-place finishes at the SkillsUSA Wisconsin State Leadership and Skills Conference earlier this year.
The SkillsUSA Championships draw the nation’s top career and technical education students for rigorous hands-on competitions that test technical expertise, problem-solving abilities and workplace readiness. Industry professionals design and judge each contest using standards aligned with current workforce expectations.
Deagan Cleveland poses with the carpentry project he completed during the 2026 SkillsUSA Championships in Atlanta. Cleveland earned first place and the national championship in carpentry.
“SkillsUSA created memories and once-in-a-lifetime experiences I will never forget,” Cleveland said. “Northwood Tech has given me so many opportunities, and I am very thankful to have amazing teachers to help me along the way. Placing first at nationals is a surreal feeling, and it shows that dedication and hard work really pays off.”
Brannon said competing at the national level was an experience he will always remember.
Edward Brannon stands with the cabinetmaking project he completed during the 2026 SkillsUSA Championships in Atlanta, where he earned a third-place national finish.
“I am so grateful for the opportunity presented to me by Northwood Tech and my instructors’ generosity for me to be able to attend SkillsUSA nationals this year,” Brannon said. “It was a once-in-a-lifetime event for me. A week of experiences and challenges, as well as great memories, like none other.”
Construction and Cabinetmaking Instructor Scott Theilig said the students’ success on the national stage reflects both their dedication and the hands-on training provided through Northwood Tech’s Construction and Cabinetmaking program.
“This year was like no other, bringing two of our top students to compete at nationals, and they both finished among the best in the country,” Theilig said. “This is the first year we have placed in the top three in both cabinetmaking and carpentry. Deagan competed against 45 of the nation’s top carpentry students and was the only competitor to finish his build with time to spare. To come away with a national championship is absolutely amazing. Edward competed against 40 of the nation’s top cabinetmaking students and earned a third-place finish, which is remarkable. I have never been more proud of these two students and our program at the college. Placing both students in the top three says a lot about our program and our instructors.”
The students’ national finishes underscore the quality of training available through Northwood Tech’s Construction and Cabinetmaking program, where students develop industry-ready skills through hands-on learning and real-world projects.
Interested in learning more about this program? Explore Northwood Tech’s Construction and Cabinetmaking program.
