Heavy machines, big dreams: Area students compete in Alabama’s first SkillsUSA Heavy Equipment Operator competition

MOBILE — Nearly a dozen students representing seven north Alabama schools are taking a historic step toward a lifetime career.

Today marks a milestone for Alabama’s technical education as 10 students from across the area compete in the first-ever Heavy Equipment Operator competition at the Alabama SkillsUSA state championships in Mobile.

The three-day event, running today through Wednesday, represents over a year of planning and collaboration between the Alabama Community College System Innovation Center, Thompson Tractor Co., and dozens of high schools and career tech centers throughout Alabama.

“This all started with a phone call about a year and a half ago,” said the ACCS Innovation Center’s Career Readiness Manager Matt Heaton. “Several high school career tech centers reached out asking if we could help make heavy equipment operation an official SkillsUSA competition for Alabama students.”

The 10 competitors representing seven schools across North Alabama:

• Axel Castro and Junior Vasquez from Haleyville Center of Technology
• Abby Hardin and Aiden Moss from Huntsville Center for Technology
• Taylor Grider from Kevin Dukes Career and Innovation Academy in Hollywood
• Cameron McDaniel from Lawrence County Career Technical Center
• Leondist Rascoe and Angel Canseco-Vasquez from Huntsville’s Mae Jemison High School
• Karson Thigpen from Muscle Shoals Career Academy
• Jacob Eubanks from Winston County Technology Center

After receiving approval from the SkillsUSA board in January, the ACCS Innovation Center formed a competition committee and began preparing for this month’s event.

The competition is designed around two of the center’s Skills for Success courses: Skid Steer and Excavator Operation. Students completed these Skills for Success courses in partnership with their local community colleges.

For students, the path to today’s competition requires dedication and specialized training.

Each competitor had to earn credentials in skid steer and excavator operation through the ACCS Innovation Center’s courses, then win their local chapter competitions to advance to the state level.

The winning students can represent Alabama at the SkillsUSA national championships and potentially advance to the world championships — a first for Alabama in the heavy equipment category.

Beyond the trophies and recognition, participants stand to gain valuable career opportunities. The competition attracts numerous industry representatives who attend specifically to scout emerging talent.

“Many competitors will walk away with college scholarships and job offers from industry partners based on their performance,” said Heaton. “This competition creates direct pathways from classroom to career for these students.”