KCCC Student Earns National Silver Medal at SkillsUSA Championships

A Knox County Career Center student has earned national recognition after finishing among the top competitors in the country at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference.

Beau Keller, a senior in the Precision Machining program at the Knox County Career Center, captured a silver medal in the CNC 2-Axis Turning Programmer competition during the national conference held June 1-5 in Atlanta, Georgia. Keller qualified for the national competition after earning first place at the Ohio state SkillsUSA competition earlier this spring.

The SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference is the nation’s largest gathering of career and technical education students and industry professionals. More than 19,000 attendees participate in the annual event, with over 6,500 state champions competing for national titles in 114 skilled trades and leadership competitions.
Keller said the experience provided an opportunity to demonstrate technical skills while preparing for a future career in the manufacturing industry.

“The only person who can shape the future is you, so take pride in your work and do your best no matter what,” Keller said. “SkillsUSA is a great opportunity for young adults to prove their skills through competition.”

Keller’s instructor, Joe LaFevre, praised both the competition and Keller’s achievement.

“I am so proud of Beau and I am beyond thankful to be a part of his journey through life, especially seeing his hard work pay off on such a high level,” LaFevre said.

The national silver medal highlights both Keller’s dedication to his craft and the strength of the Career Center’s Precision Machining program. CNC programming is a critical skill in modern manufacturing, requiring competitors to demonstrate technical knowledge, precision, and problem-solving abilities under pressure.