What is new for Northwoods Drifter in 2026
Three students from Phelps High School snagged national recognition at the SkillsUSA Championships in Atlanta, Georgia, held June 23-27.
Alivia Jones, Raelee Steeno, and Jodie Grasse took first place in the Chapter Display category, putting their small Wisconsin community on the map.
Their project? An interactive display built entirely from scratch, all based on the theme “Ignite Your Potential.” They spent months after school planning, building, and tweaking every detail.
A lot of late nights and, honestly, probably some frustration went into getting that display just right. You can’t really fake that kind of dedication.
Community support made a difference, too. Folks from around town pitched in with donations to help cover travel and competition costs.
That kind of local backing says a lot about how much people want to see their students reach big goals.
Originally, there were four team members. One couldn’t make the trip to nationals due to other commitments, but the other three kept their heads in the game and delivered when it counted.
Competition Details:
The SkillsUSA Championships cap off a year-long journey. Students start local, move up through regionals and state, and only then get a shot at nationals.
It’s a showcase for career and technical education students—over 130 occupational areas, which is kind of mind-blowing if you think about it.
Coach Dustin Spink had high praise for the team’s grit and persistence along the way.
Their win is proof that you don’t need a huge school or a big city zip code to make an impact.
Sometimes, the best stories come from the places you least expect.
Written by
Mike has been coming up or living in the Northwoods since his childhood. He is also an avid outdoorsman, writer and supper club aficionado.
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