CITA students made an extraordinary impact this year across three major statewide Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) conferences—SkillsUSA, HOSA, and FBLA—earning top awards, historic recognitions, and national‑level opportunities. Their achievements highlight the strength of CITA’s career pathways and the dedication of both students and educators.
SkillsUSA Georgia State Leadership & Skills Conference
February 19–21, 2026 | Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta
Theme: "Champion Your Future"
The 2026 SkillsUSA SLSC brought together thousands of competitors and industry partners for more than 150 skilled and leadership events. CITA students delivered standout performances, including a history‑making win.
Ariela Vega SkillsUSA State Champion (GOLD) in HVAC
Historic Champion: Ariela Vega
- 1st Place HVAC
- First female in Georgia to win this category
- Featured in multiple media articles and videos
- Skills Jam TikTok clip reached 2.2 million views
- Appears in the upcoming Skills Jam documentary
- If she medals at Nationals, she will again make history as the first female to do so
 Aaron Dowel and Nick Briere SkillsUSA State Champions (Gold) in Automotive Liam Jaiprashad SkillsUSA State Champions (Bronze) in Automotive |
 Beth Alcantar, Denise Gonzalez and Gabby Figueroa SkillsUSA Champions in Automotive SkillUSA contestants from CITA |
Gold Medalists – Advancing to Nationals (First place Champions)
- Aaron Dowell – Automotive Maintenance & Light Repair
- Nick Briere – Automotive Service Technology
Silver Medalists (Second Place Champions)
- Career Showcase-Beth Alcantar, Denise Gonzalez and Gabby Figueroa
- Automotive Electrical & Ignitions - Jesus Ruiz
Bronze Medalist (Third Place Champion)
- Diesel Service Technology-Liam Jaiprashad
- Liam was also selected by the National SkillsUSA team to film a feature with Komatsu in Cartersville
- The film will premiere at the National SkillsUSA event in June
Georgia HOSA State Leadership Conference
March 5–7, 2026 | Atlanta Marriott Marquis
Theme: “Create Your Future”
CITA’s HOSA chapter earned the prestigious Silver Elite Chapter designation and celebrated an impressive list of top‑10 state finishers.
Top State Winners (Advancing to Internationals)
- Selah Garrett – 1st Place Clinical Laboratory Science
- Tiya Draggs – 3rd Place Clinical Laboratory Science
- Jesufemi Ajiboye & Neveah Harrison – 1st Place EMT
- Maddox Cannaday – 2nd Place Job Seeking Skills
 Tiya Draggs, Mrs. Sherri Drake and Selah Garrett Neveah Harrison and Jesuefemi Ajiboye - EMT - 1st Place |
 Job Seeking Skills - Maddox Cannaday - 2nd Place CITA HOSA Group Photo |
Top 10 State Winners
- Jesus Garcis – 10th Place Dental Science
- Ariadne Iglesias – 9th Place Dental Terminology
- Jesus Vilchis Martinez – 6th Place Medical Legal
- Jabel Filpo – 4th Place Pathophysiology
- Gabrielle Mille – 9th Place Pathophysiology
- Madison Scott – 7th Place Personal Care
- Lillian Rogers – 8th Place Patient Care Tech
- Naiah Johnson – 5th Place Phlebotomy
- Talia Mwangi – Recognition for HOSA Happenings
Georgia FBLA State Leadership Conference:
March 13–14, 2026 | Hyatt Regency Atlanta
Theme: “Shattering Limits”
CITA FBLA members showcased their business, technology, and leadership skills among the state’s best.
FBLA State Winners: (Advancing to Internationals)
- John Stuart – 4th Place Technology Support & Services
 BAA Award Challenge - 1st Place - (4 Years in a Row)  John Stuart - Technology Support and Services - 4th Place |
 Who's Who in GA FBLA - Star Leslie Orji - 4th Place  CITA FBLA Group Photo |
FBLA Top 10 State Winners:
- 1st Place BAA Chapter Award (4 years in a row)
- 4th Place Who’s Who in FBLA-Star Lesle Orji
- 8th Place Intro to Parliamentary Procedures-Victor Guerrero
- 9th Place Networking Infrastructures-Angel Marquez Ramirez –
- 10th Place Computer Applications-Liam Jaiprashad
- 10th Place Cybersecurity-Sophia Sottilare
A Year of Excellence:
Across all three conferences, CITA students demonstrated exceptional skill, professionalism, and leadership. Their accomplishments reflect the strength of CITA’s programs and their readiness to excel in high‑demand careers.
