A Folsom High School student has earned top honors on the national stage, bringing home gold in a highly competitive technical skills contest and making history for his school in the process.
Jacob Wollwerth, a student in Folsom High School’s Manufacturing and Product Development Career Technical Education (CTE) Pathway, took first place in 5-Axis CNC Machining at the 2025 SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference, held June 23–27 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Wollwerth’s win marks the first-ever national gold medal for the program at Folsom High School, a significant milestone for both the campus and the broader Folsom Cordova Unified School District’s Career Technical Education community.
“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.”
SkillsUSA’s annual national conference is the country’s premier showcase for career and technical education excellence. This year’s event drew more than 17,500 attendees, including 6,500 student competitors from across the United States who competed in 114 hands-on contests ranging from skilled trades to technical fields and service industries.
Wollwerth’s first-place finish places him among the top high school machinists in the nation. In recognition of his achievement, he was awarded more than $9,000 in scholarships, tools, and prizes. These included a $5,000 award from the Gene Haas Foundation, a $2,000 scholarship and an additional $1,000 Visa gift card from the same foundation, a $1,000 award from Aerotek, and a pair of Mitutoyo digital calipers valued at $300.
The award not only reflects Wollwerth’s outstanding technical skill, but also the strength of Folsom High’s CTE programming, which continues to expand opportunities for students through hands-on learning and industry partnerships.
“In talking to other advanced manufacturing instructors across the country, I’m grateful for the support the manufacturing pathway has received,” added Bias. “Colleagues, site admin team, district office, parents and industry partners all have a part of this win and what it represents for Folsom High and the community.”
Wollwerth plans to continue in the machining trade after graduation, building on this national recognition as he pursues a high-demand career in advanced manufacturing.
For more information about Career Technical Education in the Folsom Cordova Unified School District, visit this link.
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