One AC student is national qualifier after placing first at SkillsUSA Texas

The Machining Program at Amarillo College is proud to announce that one of its students is a SkillsUSA state champion, an honor accompanied by an invitation to attend a national event.

Adrian Zapata demonstrated unparalleled skill in the Programming 3-axis CNC Milling competition at the SkillsUSA Texas State Leadership and Skills Conference in April at Corpus Christi. In capturing first place in the statewide contest, Zapata now qualifies to compete at the National SkillsUSA Conference this summer in Atlanta, Ga.

Additionally, AC’s Kristen Sisneros demonstrated her remarkable proficiency in Corpus Christi by placing second overall in CNC Mill Programming.

Both Zapata and Sisneros exemplified the values of excellence, professionalism, and innovation at the Texas SkillsUSA Competition, according to Bob Gustin, machining instructor at AC, who added that their achievements are a testament to their personal dedication and remarkable talent.

Gustin and fellow instructor David Gibson served as mentors for the successful AC duo.

"We are immensely proud of Adrian Zapata and Kristen Sisneros for their outstanding accomplishments," Gustin said. "Their success underscores our commitment to nurturing the next generation of skilled professionals and inspiring and empowering the leaders and innovators of tomorrow.

“These two students deserve our heartfelt congratulations, as do all the participants, instructors, and supporters who contributed to the success of the SkillsUSA Texas Competition,” he said.

The Texas SkillsUSA Competition serves as a platform for students to demonstrate their skills, creativity, and technical expertise across various disciplines. It celebrates craftsmanship, innovation, and the pursuit of excellence in career and technical education.

On another note, Gustin and Gibson had even more to celebrate at semester’s end when they learned that seven of their dual credit students had achieved a total of nine credentials from the National Institute of Metalworking Skills (NIMS).

Gustin says NIMS credentials are both challenging for high school students to obtain and highly valued by employers throughout the country.

The AC dual credit students who achieved NIMS credentials are:

• Aiden Arizpe, junior, 2 NIMS Credentials
• Edgar Flores, junior, 1 NIMS Credential.
• Mila Sebren, junior, 1 NIMS Credential.
• Able Trevino, junior, 2 NIMS Credentials
• Phillips Gentry, sophomore, 1 NIMS Credential
• Brayden Kongdara, sophomore, 1 NIMS Credential
• Ian Martinez, sophomore, 1 NIMS Credential