National Champ: Audrey Cook brings home SkillsUSA Crown

Audrey Cook’s journey to the SkillsUSA national stage was anything but ordinary. The CV-TEC New Visions Medical Careers student recently competed at the National Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, where she took home the gold medal in the Medical Terminology competition. But as Audrey explains, her win wasn’t about the pressure to succeed — it was about enjoying the experience.

“I knew that if I went into the competition thinking about winning, that would put a lot of pressure on myself, so I just focused on telling myself to have fun during the entire trip,” Audrey shared.

She credits her instructors, Dr. Menia and Mrs. Santaniello, with keeping her centered.

“Whenever I would get worried I hadn’t prepped enough, Dr. Menia and Mrs. Santaniello were there to reel me in, which was super helpful.”

Audrey added that Dr. Menia’s constant reminders to “have no expectations” and to “just have fun” were key to her stress-free mindset.

Preparing for the competition was a rigorous process, especially while balancing her other classes and extracurriculars.

“I can honestly say I learned how to study this year, especially combined with calculus,” Audrey said. “My New Visions class was front-loaded with content, so I really studied hard during the first half of the year and basically did touch-up work after states.”

Audrey’s competition was a two-hour test, leaving her the rest of the week to explore Atlanta and relax.

“Competition day consisted of sleeping in and recharging, getting a healthy breakfast, last-minute studying with Dr. Menia outside the competition room, and then immediate focus during the test,” she said.

Despite her confidence after the test, the moments leading up to the award ceremony were the most nerve-wracking.

“Waiting backstage after my name was called was honestly the most intimidating moment in the entire trip,” Audrey recalled. “After the test, I felt confident that I might have placed because I felt like I performed the best I ever had. However, backstage I met my competitors, and I could tell how intelligent and driven they both were, which made me wonder if I could match up to kids from bigger schools.”

When she finally heard her name called as the national champion, Audrey’s first thought was to celebrate with those who had supported her.

“When I finally realized that I had got the gold, all I could think of was running off of the stage to call my family members and loved ones, as well as my classmates, and also talk to Dr. Menia and Mrs. Santaniello — all the people who had been rooting for me this year. The journey I took to get to the podium was definitely not a solitary one, and when I felt like giving up, it was the people closest to me who made sure I didn’t give up.”

Audrey wasn’t the only CV-TEC student to shine at the national conference.

Zoe Corrigan, a student from Peru Central School enrolled in the Business Management & Entrepreneurship Program at the CV-TEC Plattsburgh Campus, was elected the 2025–2026 New York State SkillsUSA Historian while attending the National Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta. Zoe will now represent students statewide, contributing to the mission and leadership of SkillsUSA NY.

Once again, CV-TEC’s young professionals continue to impress at the state and national level. With Audrey and Zoe, as well as all other SkillsUSA winners and competitors, CV-TEC has established a strong foundation of success for years to come.