Aims Community College students competed in the 2025 SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference from June 23 through 27 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Main Content Area
Aims Community College Students Win Gold Medals at National SkillsUSA Workforce Development Event
June 30, 2025
Aims students, Kenny Jones and Griffin Wronski, received a gold medal at the SkillsUSA National competition in the Commercial sUAS (Commercial Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems) team event.
Aims students took home three gold medals, making them the 2025 national champions.
Pictured left to right: Cloud Kline, Mike Hanscome, Mario Saenz and Jesse Manuel represent Aims at SkillsUSA nationals.
Five Aims students participated in automotive refinishing technology and commercial unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) drone flight events. This is the first time Aims has competed in the UAS SkillsUSA contests. Aims automotive students have participated in SkillsUSA competitions since 2012.
The Aims UAS drone team, consisting of Kenneth Jones and Griffin Wronski, won a first-place gold medal in the Commercial sUAS Drone college category.
In post-secondary automotive competitions, Cloud Kline received a gold medal in Collision Damage Appraisal. Previous SkillsUSA medalist, Mario Seanz, came home with a gold medal in Collision Repair. Jesse Manuel took fourth place honors in the Facilithon-Leadership in Facility Management event.
UAS Student Tests Skills in Real-World Scenarios
The 2025 Aims UAS Team at the SkillsUSA state competition in Pueblo, Colorado.
Griffin Wronski, a student in the Aims UAS program, was eager to show off his skills in a larger forum. Participants were tasked to engage in real-world, scenario-based situations at the competition. The entire Aims SkillsUSA team has been practicing to compete with physical flying and industry knowledge. “It overlaps with what we're taught here at Aims,” he said. However, some of the training pushed him out of his comfort zone. “It's out of our nature to push drones super close to obstacles,” Griffin said. “We had to overcome the psychology of that while being much more careful.”
Through this experience and education, Griffin is looking forward to breaking into this emerging industry. “It’s an opportunity that represents hope for the future and making progress in life.”
A Steady Climb to Nationals
Cloud Kline and Mike Hanscome at the 2025 regional competition.
Cloud Kline's journey to nationals is a testament to their dedication. The skills for damage estimating events are consistent with what’s expected in the automotive industry, pushing Cloud’s professional competencies. “I have been practicing two times a week since November to help prepare for nationals,” Cloud said. “My teacher helped me get an internship close to home to help prepare. I've also been connecting with previous SkillsUSA national competitors to help me better understand the scope of the competition.” Cloud admits that the information needed to succeed is more than anticipated. “I need to know so many mechanical things about cars and quickly learned how important it is to have that knowledge.”
In addition to competing, Cloud enjoyed other aspects of SkillsUSA, such as meeting new people. “I love getting to know fellow competitors.” The conference is also an opportunity for students to learn about innovations in various industries. “There's also some pretty cool technology and vendors at Nationals,” Cloud said. “ I'm excited about that, too!”
A Return to the Nationals Stage
Mike Hanscome, Mario Saenz and Kyle Cadarette at the 2025 SkillsUSA regionals in Windsor.
For Mario Saenz, this is the second time he has competed in SkillsUSA nationals and placed second in 2024. Mario credits his instructors, Mike Hanscome and Kyle Cadarette, for providing weekly practice and study sessions that simulate real competition scenarios. These sessions help him identify areas for improvement and build confidence ahead of the big day. For 2025, Mario focused on more book work. “This year, I’m spending just as much time studying books and manuals as I am practicing my hands-on skills,” he said. “The technical knowledge piece is huge, and I wanted to be ready for every part of the competition.”
For Mario, representing Aims on a national platform is a point of pride. “It means a lot to me,” he said. “It’s a chance to show what I’ve learned and how much Aims has helped me grow. I’m proud to represent my college and our amazing program here.”
Discover Hands-On Learning Opportunities
Both the automotive and UAS programs are located on the Aims Windsor Campus. Get more information about the Aims Automotive & Technology Center and the programs at aims.co/automotive. Visit aims.co/UAS to learn more about the UAS learning opportunities and drone technology labs at Aims.
