NDSCS Diesel Students Dominate During Skills Competitions
Diesel Technology students from North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS) delivered an outstanding performance this spring, earning top honors at both regional and state skills competitions.
At the 2026 Colorado TopTech Skills Competition, held April 25 in Denver, NDSCS students captured six of the top eight spots in the student division and won 11 of 12 competitive stations. Hosted by the Colorado Motor Carriers Association, the competition challenges students through a combination of written exams and hands-on diagnostics in areas such as brakes, electrical systems, and preventative maintenance.
Nathan Olson of Moorhead, Minnesota, earned first place overall and was named the top student technician. With the win, Olson advances to the national Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) SuperTech Competition in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, this September.
Other top NDSCS finishers included: Zane Schumacher, 2nd place (Reynolds, ND); Carter Julin, 3rd place (Glyndon, MN); Miles Hanson, 4th place (Waconia, MN); Cayne Rudolph, 7th place (Stanley, ND); and Wyatt Hagen, 8th place (Sunburg, MN).
“Our students continue to show that the hands-on education they receive at NDSCS is preparing them well for the diesel industry,” commented Tom Bakewell, Diesel Technology instructor. “Competitions like this highlight the knowledge and technical skills they’ve developed in the program.”
In addition to their success at TopTech, NDSCS Diesel students also earned top placements at the North Dakota SkillsUSA State Leadership and Skills Conference, held on the NDSCS Wahpeton campus from April 19-21.
Schumacher led the group with a gold medal in Diesel Equipment Technology. He will represent North Dakota at the National SkillsUSA Championships in Atlanta, Georgia, this June. Paul Ekhoff of Bemidji, Minnesota, earned silver and Kaden Gutormson of Brookings, South Dakota, took bronze in the same category.
These results highlight the strength of NDSCS’s Diesel Technology program and its continued commitment to preparing students for careers in the heavy-duty transportation and maintenance industries.