Keara Burns of Aberdeen High School earned her own spot in SkillsUSA history when she won the gold medal in Residential and Commercial Appliance Technology, her third win at nationals.

She earned a silver medal in 2023 and a bronze in 2022. Before the contest started, Burns said she was excited to be back and felt confident thanks to preparing with her instructor, Chuck Veloni. She also thanked industry representatives like Mark Pollitz, who co-chaired her competition, for running the events and testing her skills to confirm that she is capable.

More history was made at the national competition. Students at the 2024 National Leadership & Skills Conference made history as part of the biggest SkillsUSA event ever held.

Official registration reached 17,802 — up 1,700 from last year — with an estimated economic impact to the city of Atlanta of $28 million and filling 40,000 hotel nights in total.

From 115 national competitive events to Delegate Sessions for the voting student members electing new national officers, the Academy of Excellence and SkillsUSA University for instructors, a huge trade show and a VIP Day for SkillsUSA industry partners, there was something for everyone.

Students were embedded with their state delegations at hotels across downtown Atlanta within an easy walk of the Georgia World Congress Center and State Farm Arena, and quickly learned to navigate the city and network with peers, sharing joyful state cheers in the hallways and conducting lots of conversations with new friends over pin trading.