Congrats to the 2026 SkillsUSA National Cabinetmaking Champions!

From June 1–5, 2026, a large swath of the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta transformed into a bustling arena for the 2026 SkillsUSA National Championships.

The Cabinetmaking Competition pitted postsecondary and high school winners from states throughout the nation.

This year’s intense competition tasked students with building a challenging veneered cabinet designed by Kent Gilchrist, Technical Chair of SkillsUSA and chairman of the Woodwork Career Alliance Board of Directors. Competitors were required to interpret detailed blueprints, lay out components, generate accurate cut lists, and machine every piece under the added pressure of a countdown clock.

Earning their place on the podium for the 2026 SkillsUSA National Cabinetmaking competition were:

Postsecondary Division

Gold: Brody Leerssen — Sheridan College (Sheridan, WY)

Silver: Nikolaus Brown — Utah Valley University (Orem, UT)

Bronze: Ed Brannon — Northwood Technical College (Rice Lake, WI)

High School Division

Gold: Michael Silva — Greater New Bedford RVTHS (New Bedford, MA)

Silver: Graeden Adams — Blackfoot High School (Blackfoot, ID)

Bronze: Riley Rohrer — Kodiak High School (Kodiak, AK)

The SkillsUSA Championships serve as the national culmination of a year-long journey. Starting in local school chapters, students advance through district, regional, and state competitions to earn their spot on the national stage in Atlanta.

The National Cabinetmaking contest was one of 155 trade categories that brought together over 6,800 state champions. Nearly 2,000 industry volunteers served as judges and supervisors, evaluating competitors on essential skills required in each of the wide-ranging contests including Carpentry, Welding, Automotive Service Technology, Cosmetology, and Culinary Arts.