Two-time New Mexico pin designer represents Navajo culture at national conference
Six students from The University of New Mexico-Gallup, including the state pin design winner, represented the Land of Enchantment at the 2024 SkillsUSA Championship in June.
UNM-Gallup students Kayliegh Begay, Sonny Gene, Kitana James, Mason Joe, Layla Perry and Carlos Silva competed in the championship during the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta from June 23-27. All six students placed in the top 13 of their respective categories.
“I think the students surprised themselves,” UNM-Gallup SkillsUSA Chapter advisor Ann Jarvis said. “Many of the students put in a lot of extra practice sessions, doing presentations out in the community before the state conference. You could see it was evident that those practice sessions helped them get out in front of the judges.”
SkillsUSA is a workforce development organization that empowers students to become skilled professionals, career-ready leaders and responsible community members. UNM-Gallup formed its SkillsUSA Chapter in 2014 and has seen success at both the state and national competitions in recent years.
BLOSSOMING THROUGH SKILLSUSA
This year, Begay was the top finisher for UNM-Gallup at the national championship, placing fourth in the post-secondary Pin Design category.
Gene placed 13th in the post-secondary Job Demonstration Open category, James placed fifth in the Prepared Speech category, Joe placed seventh in the secondary Action Skills category, Perry placed 11th in the secondary Job Demonstration Open category, and Silva placed eighth in the secondary Job Interview category.
Begay’s pin design this year features an original painting with the lettering “2024 SkillsUSA New Mexico” alongside an image of Shiprock, the massive rock formation near the community of Shiprock, N.M., which is located on the Navajo Nation about 93 miles north of Gallup.
The pin also showcases a pair of wrap moccasins and a piece of silver jewelry in the shape of the Zia symbol with a turquoise stone in the middle.
Begay’s design was turned into a real pin that represented the entire state of New Mexico at the national conference. It is customary for SkillsUSA students to bring their home state pins to nationals and trade pins with students from other states.
“She’s very competitive,” Jarvis said of Begay. “She knows what she wants, and she goes for it. She always used to talk about before she joined SkillsUSA that she was very quiet, not involved, and into her own things. Then with Skills, she really blossomed and opened up.”
At the national conference, Begay used a Navajo weaving loom to display an enlarged version of her pin design and to teach people about her culture and heritage.
GOING FOR GOLD
At the state SkillsUSA competition in Albuquerque back in April, UNM-Gallup students earned a total of seven gold medals, two silver medals and three bronze medals.
“This is the most gold medals we’ve ever earned at a state competition,” Jarvis said.
Begay won a gold medal in the pin design category for the second year in a row — first as a high school student, then as a college student.
She also placed first in the post-secondary Job Skill Demonstration Open category at the state competition, making her a double gold medalist.
However, because Begay competed in the pin design contest at nationals, Gene was selected to take her place in the Job Skill Demonstration Open category because he placed second at state, earning a silver medal.
James, Joe, Perry and Silva each earned gold in their respective categories. In addition, Kiefer Yazzie earned gold in the post-secondary Job Skill Demonstration A category, but he opted not to attend the national competition.
UNM-Gallup’s other silver medalists were Kellan Benally in the post-secondary Extemporaneous Speaking category and Raine Segura in the secondary Job Skill Demonstration A category.
UNM-Gallup’s bronze medalists were Orlan Dale, the president of the SkillsUSA Chapter, in the post-secondary Job Skill Demonstration A category; Ryan Descheny in the post-secondary welding sculpture category; and Bryan Herold, Tyler Smith and Isaiah Tsosie as a team in the secondary Career Pathways Showcase/Human Services category.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
Prior to the state and national competitions, the students honed their skills and improved their presentations by practicing throughout Gallup.
UNM-Gallup’s Zollinger Library hosted weekly practice sessions so students could become more comfortable presenting in front of an audience. Jarvis applauded Library Director Markos Chavez for pitching in and volunteering as a judge at the state and national competitions as well.
Jarvis also recognized the Gallup Kiwanis Club, Gallup Rotary Club, Gallup Toastmasters, Gallup Police Department, Amigo Automotive Group, and UNM-Gallup’s Staff Council and College Council for welcoming students to practice their presentations.
“Our students wouldn’t have felt as much at ease as they did in front of the judges without those practice sessions,” Jarvis said.
To learn more about the UNM-Gallup SkillsUSA Chapter and learn how to become a member, contact Ann Jarvis at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
By Richard Reyes
UNM-Gallup Senior Public Relations Specialist
