For many students, these conferences directly connect to their future career goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy career goal is to become an aviation maintenance technician for helicopters,\u201d said Joey Fernandez, a senior at H.P. Baldwin High who competed for the fourth year. \u201cThis competition has helped me get that shop experience, work experience and knowledge to fix and repair machinery and eventually I want to do that through the military.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fernandez was among the students who competed in SkillsUSA\u02bb’s automotive competition that included a written test and performance test. Events like these bridge the gap between classroom learning and workforce skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI want to go to a trade school after this and go into the automotive technician field,\u201d said Waipahu High School junior Jaeden Dagan. \u201cThe experience I gained preparing for the tests with the things we learned in school, this competition puts it all together.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Four of the five CTSO organizations hosted their conventions in Honolulu. FFA held its convention on Hawai\u2018i Island at Konawaena High School. For Kohala High student Pela Terrell, participating in FFA expanded her understanding of both agriculture and the professional skills needed in the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI feel like initially I thought that it was really about, you know, farming and agriculture. And while it is absolutely all of those things, I also feel like it’s primarily a tool to help students learn leadership skills,\u201d said Terrell, who has competed in the national competition twice. \u201cI feel like my professional skills have been developed, my speaking skills, and my ability to connect with people from many different backgrounds.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Beyond competitions, the conferences also featured demonstrations, career development events, service projects and opportunities to connect with peers from across the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cStudents should be involved with CTSOs because it provides a space for them to grow professionally and to create relationships with people,\u201d said Adena of Farrington, who finished first in the FCCLA fashion design category with classmate Maria Cecillia Ganal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2026 DECA Winners<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n 2026 FCCLA Winners<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n 2026 FFA Winners<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Automotive](\"https:\/\/hawaiipublicschools.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026-02-17-SkillsUSA-Automotive-Maintenance-and-Light-Repair-and-Automotive-Service-Technology-P1040263-copy-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Students](\"https:\/\/hawaiipublicschools.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_5522-1024x684.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"FFA](\"https:\/\/hawaiipublicschools.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026-02-26-FFA-40-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Students](\"https:\/\/hawaiipublicschools.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026-02-17-SkillsUSA-CTE-Carpentry-Cabinet-Making-P1037143-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/hawaiipublicschools.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026-02-17-SkillsUSA-Automotive-Maintenance-and-Light-Repair-and-Automotive-Service-Technology-P1040248-1024x576.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/hawaiipublicschools.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/4V4A8610-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"FFA](\"https:\/\/hawaiipublicschools.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/20260310-ctso-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Students](\"https:\/\/hawaiipublicschools.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/20260310-ctso2-1024x716.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/hawaiipublicschools.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/CTSO-Cake-Decoration-P1041673-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"