SWCC brings home two Top 10 finishes from national skills competition

Two Southwestern Community College auto collision repair/refinish students-Rachel Becker of Pleasant Hill and Logan Nunnikhoven of Newton-placed in the Top 10 during the 2026 SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference (NLSC), from June 1-5 in Atlanta.

Nunnikhoven, who received his diploma in auto collision repair-refinish from SWCC in May, placed fourth in the collision repair technology category, and Becker, who graduated with her Associate of Applied Science degree in auto collision repair-refinish in May, placed eighth in the collision damage appraisal category.

In addition to the overall category awards, Skill Point Certificates were awarded to contestants who met or exceeded the industry-defined cut score established by the business and industry leaders who designed and judged their contests.

The following three SWCC students received Skill Point Certificates:

• Jasmine Hansen of Diagonal, automotive refinishing technology
• Logan Nunnikhoven of Newton, collision repair technology
• Eli Cowman of Winterset, electrical construction wiring

Other students qualifying for national SkillsUSA competition included Jake Brandt of Prescott, in electrical construction wiring, and Kegan Croghan of Anita, in the welding category. Students were accompanied to Atlanta by Jeff Magneson, SWCC auto collision repair/refinish instructor; Travis Schultz, welding technology instructor; and David Sorensen, electrical technology instructor.

SkillsUSA's NLSC is the largest gathering of America's future skilled workforce and the ultimate recognition of excellence in career and technical education. The NLSC is a week-long celebration of the skilled trades and the accomplishments of career-ready leaders from across the United States. With more than 19,000 attendees, including students, instructors, industry partners, government officials, and administrators, the NLSC SkillsUSA Championships bring together more than 6,500 state champions to compete for national gold, silver, and bronze medals in 114 skilled and leadership competitions.

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Pictured above: Jasmine Hansen, Rachel Becker, Logan Nunnikhoven, and Eli Cowman.