DANVERS — Students from Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School earned top honors and statewide recognition at the 2026 SkillsUSA Massachusetts State Leadership and Skills Conference, showcasing their technical expertise, leadership, and commitment to service among the best career and technical education students in the Commonwealth.

A total of 36 Essex Tech students attended the conference, including 26 competitors, eight state voting delegates, and two competition assistants. Students competed in 12 categories and brought home multiple medals, scholarships, and leadership honors.

SkillsUSA is a national organization that empowers students to become world-class workers, leaders, and responsible American citizens through career and technical education programs. The annual state conference brings together students from across Massachusetts to compete in hands-on technical and leadership contests aligned with industry standards.

Essex Tech students earned recognition in the following categories:

• Automated Manufacturing bronze medal: Michael Celata, Patrick Crockett, and Emmett Snyder
• Esthetics gold medal: Angelina Craig, with assistant Avery Howcroft
• Jannine Baker Legacy Scholarship Award: Roisy Pena
• National Voting Delegate: Michael Santostefano
• Community Volunteer Service Award bronze medal: Tina Chen, Keylianis Boria-Crespo, Taylor Kennelly, Reed Mattina, Roisy Pena, Olivia Silva, and Hunter Somers

“These accomplishments reflect the extraordinary talent and professionalism of our students,” Superintendent Heidi T. Riccio said. “SkillsUSA provides students with opportunities to apply their technical knowledge in real-world settings while building leadership and career-readiness skills that will serve them long after graduation. Essex Tech is incredibly proud of each student who represented our school at the state conference.”

Angelina Craig, a sophomore in the Cosmetology program, said, “Competing at SkillsUSA gave me the chance to showcase everything I’ve learned at Essex Tech while also meeting students from across the state who are passionate about the same career paths. It was an incredible experience that pushed me to grow both personally and professionally, and I’m proud to represent Essex Tech at the national level.”

The conference also provided opportunities for students to participate in leadership development activities, networking, and state governance through the SkillsUSA voting delegate process.

Essex Tech continues to offer students opportunities to develop high-demand technical skills while preparing them for long-term success in their careers and community leadership. For more information about Essex Tech visit essexnorthshore.org.