Bryce Hayden, a culinary student at Dallas College, earned a gold medal at the annual SkillsUSA Competition in Atlanta. Despite initial reluctance to enter, Hayden showcased his culinary skills with a Caesar salad made from scratch, a well-set table, and a mocktail, impressing judges with his presentation and service skills.
Hayden entered the competition on the advice of Sheila Hyde, chair of the Culinary, Pastry, and Hospitality Department. He reflected on the experience, stating, “It was quite intimidating, but I wanted to make it feel fluent and natural.” His participation was driven by a desire to enjoy the experience rather than focus solely on winning, saying, “My goal wasn’t to win but to have a good time.”
In addition to Hayden, gold medals were awarded to Harrison Nguyen and Dakota Reeves for their Community Action Project, which aimed to highlight the importance of voting amidst declining voter registration. Nguyen, an officer in the Student Government Association, emphasized their mission, stating, “We had to convince them that they have a voice.” He further shared his vision for the future, saying, “When I get older, I can always look back and say, ‘We did it.’ Many generations to come would appreciate us for what we did to make things better.”
Dallas College also achieved two silver awards: one for Chapter Business Procedure and another for Chapter Display. Richland student Luis Pacheco and El Centro’s Rosemary Pate received bronze medals in Customer Service and Job Skill Demonstration, respectively.
Noeli Piccoli Biggs, senior manager for Special Academic Programs, remarked, “The SkillsUSA program empowers students to succeed at work and in life, while helping to close the skills gap.” Dr. Justin Lonon noted that these achievements reflect Dallas College's commitment to preparing students for the workforce, stating, “This talent pipeline endorsed by community colleges means our students can move with ease from the classroom to career-readiness.” The competition featured 6,000 state champions competing in 115 skill and leadership events.
