The annual SkillsUSA’s National Leadership & Skills Conference (NLSC) once again brought the nation’s top plumbing talent to the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. The two-day competition featured exceptional men and women of all ages vying for the coveted gold, silver and bronze medals.

The 2026 National Plumbing Competition drew 48 of the country’s top plumbing students currently enrolled in high school, vocational, technical and post-secondary schools. Each sporting matching blue work uniforms, safety glasses and steel-toe boots, this year’s contestants earned their spot on the national stage by winning a rigorous local or state competition to qualify.

Over the course of a day and a half, the competitors put their plumbing skills, STEM knowledge and good old-fashion elbow grease to the test. The timed event required them to rough-in a bathroom using copper, PVC and cast-iron piping materials, showcasing their proficiency with cutting and assembling tools. In the end, nearly all of them successfully completed the complex assignment with six taking home top honors across the secondary and post-secondary categories.

The 2026 winners are:

Secondary Category:

• GOLD – Beckham Dickson, Davis Technical College, Kaysville, Utah
• SILVER – Joseph Grzegorczyk, Bay Arenac ISD Career Center, Bay City, Michigan
• BRONZE – Parker Haydt, Bethlehem AVTS, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Post-Secondary Category

• GOLD – Anton Allen, Western Dakota Technical College, Rapid City, South Dakota
• SILVER – Agustin Gonzalez-Lopez, Erwin Technical College, Tampa, Florida
• BRONZE – David Thompson, Davis Technical College, Kaysville, Utah

The National Plumbing Competition puts a spotlight on the future trade workforce at a time when the industry is facing a major skilled labor shortage. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the plumbing-heating-cooling (p-h-c) industry will need approximately 114,500 workers by 2028, making events like SkillsUSA and others like it around the country a vital training ground for the next generation of trade professionals.

The PHCC Educational Foundation has long been a dedicated supporter of the event, partnering with SkillsUSA and allied industry organizations for decades to promote and build up the trades.

“The National Plumbing Competition shines a light on one of the fastest-growing and most in-demand jobs in America that doesn’t require a four-year degree,” said Dan Quinonez, executive director of the PHCC Educational Foundation. “The level of talent that is demonstrated on this floor is truly inspiring. Each year, we see a surge of interest from students across the country eager to participate in local competitions just to get a shot at competing here in Atlanta. Our hope is that events like this one will inspire people of all backgrounds to enter the trades, make it a career and help us close that skills gap.”

The execution of this year’s competition was made possible by the generous support and donations from major corporate sponsors including: American Supply Association (ASA), Bernzomatic, Bradford White, BrassCraft, the Cast Iron Pipe Institute (CISPI), Charlotte Pipe & Foundry, Copper Development Association Inc., Delta Faucet, Home Depot Pro, the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO), Kohler Co., McWane, Milwaukee Tool, MrPEX Systems, Oatey, Rheem Manufacturing, Sioux Chief, Tyler Pipe and Coupling, Viega, LLC, and Zoeller.

The SkillsUSA Championships serve as the premier showcase for America’s most highly skilled career and technical education students, standing as one of the largest hands-on workforce development events in the world. This year’s weeklong conference drew nearly 20,000 attendees with 7,002 state champions from across the U.S. competing head-to-head in 115 skilled and leadership competitions.

The 2027 SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference will take place June 21-25 in Atlanta.