Three Assiniboine College students are headed to Toronto later this month after earning gold medals at the 2026 Skills Manitoba competition in Winnipeg.
Digital Art and Design students Nicole Mogk and Ashley Pogson, along with Dennis Ngendakumana from the Piping Trades program, topped their categories as part of Team Assiniboine. All three will now represent Manitoba at the Skills Canada National Competition on May 28–29.
This year, 21 Assiniboine students took part in Skills Manitoba events, with 15 earning medals across multiple trades and technology categories. The annual competition brings together high school, post‑secondary, and apprenticeship students to test their abilities under real‑world, industry‑level pressure.
“Skills Manitoba gives students an opportunity to apply what they’ve learned in a competitive environment,” said Jim DeGraeve, Acting Dean of Trades. “It builds confidence, sharpens technical skills, and connects students directly with industry expectations.”
For Pogson, the Graphic Design Technology competition felt like a natural extension of her classroom work. “Our instructors design projects that closely reflect what we face at Skills Manitoba,” she said. “Heading to Toronto now feels surreal, but I’m excited to see what the national competition brings.”
Ngendakumana said the plumbing challenge pushed him to perform under tight time limits. “That pressure really shows how well you understand your trade,” he said. “I never expected to win provincials, so competing nationally is a huge opportunity.”
Mogk, who competed in 3D Digital Game Art, said the experience validated her hard work. “It was rewarding to see the preparation pay off,” she said. “The program helped me explore different areas of art and discover my passion for 3D.”
More than 500 students competed in 42 contests province‑wide this year. Skills Manitoba winners now move on to represent the province on the national stage.
