Friend wins national SkillsUSA gold

WCSCC and Northwestern graduate earns top honor in practical nursing

Athlete in a blue jersey wearing a medal stands on a podium against a red-lit stage backdrop.

Wayne County Schools Career Center and Northwestern graduate Cheyenne Friend earned a national gold medal in practical nursing at the SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference.

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Published June 10, 2026 - 9:00 a.m.

Wayne County Schools Career Center and Northwestern graduate Cheyenne Friend earned a gold medal in practical nursing at the SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference, held June 1-6 in Atlanta, Georgia.

The annual SkillsUSA Nationals showcase the nation's top career and technical education students, who compete in more than 100 occupational and leadership events. Students must first qualify through local and state competitions before advancing to the national level.

Friend competed as a licensed practical nurse after passing her NCLEX-PN licensure examination just four days before leaving for Atlanta.

The practical nursing competition evaluates participants on a variety of skills essential to the nursing profession, including patient care, clinical judgment, communication and technical competencies.