Folsom High student wins gold at national SkillsUSA conference

Folsom High School student Jacob Wollwerth made history by earning a gold medal in 5-Axis CNC Machining at the SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference, held June 23-27, 2025, in Atlanta, Georgia. This marks the first-ever gold national title for Folsom High School's Manufacturing & Product Development Career Technical Education pathway, a groundbreaking achievement that puts the program on the national map among the nation's elite technical education programs. Jacob's victory came after competing against more than 6,500 student competitors across 114 contests at the nation's premier showcase of excellence in career and technical education. His first-place finish not only earned him recognition as one of the top high school machinists in the nation but also brought home more than $9,000 in prizes, scholarships and tools, including a $5,000 scholarship from the Gene Haas Foundation. "Jacob is such a great kid and he deserves every bit of this recognition," said Andrew Bias, Folsom High School Manufacturing and Honors Advanced Manufacturing teacher. "It is humbling as a teacher to see a student take what you introduced to him and achieve this level of success." Jacob plans to continue in the machining trade after graduation, building on this national recognition as he enters a high-demand and rewarding career field. Sharing the success stories that make our community shine. Got story ideas, questions or comments? Email Jessica at jessicah@goldcountrymedia.com