Four students head to SkillsUSA Nationals in Atlanta

Student excellence doesn’t stop in May at FutureForward Washington Square. Rather, Washington Square is proud to announce it is sending four students to the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills conference in Atlanta, Georgia from June 1 - 5.The road to Atlanta began last April in Pueblo at the state competition, where the following students secured the opportunity to compete on the national stage by bringing home Gold medals in their respective fields:

• Blake Celius (Legacy ’27) – Diesel Equipment Technology
• Alejandro Sanchez (Legacy ’27) – Extemporaneous Speaking
• Chris Schankweiler (Mountain Range ’27) – Firefighting
• Lucas Martinez (Horizon ’26) – First Aid/CPR

Success, however, is rarely achieved alone. Case in point, Blake Celius credits his teachers for his success. “I’ve grown up around engines,” Blake shared, but “I didn’t know anything about semis coming into this class, and now I feel pretty confident doing a walk through inspection.”

Chris Schankweiler attributes his success to the unique atmosphere created by both staff and his peers. "We all push each other. We all have friendly competition, and we’re all there for the same purpose, which is to get better, and ultimately, to train to be a firefighter."

The success of these students highlights the unique environment at Washington Square, where hands-on training meets a culture of mutual support. For many, the campus has become more than just a place to learn—it is a community where professional dreams take shape.

“Coming here is my favorite part of the day, coming to this fire class, and it’s exciting to be able to represent Washington Square and the Firefighting program at the national level,” shared Chris Schankweiler.