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Benjamin Swanson
A Waubonsee Community College student has been named the best collision damage appraisal student in the country. Benjamin Swanson, of Aurora, earned the national championship title at the 2026 SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference. The event took place in Atlanta, GA, from June 1–5, 2026.
Swanson returned to Waubonsee’s Sugar Grove Campus with a gold medal after outperforming the country's best trade and technical students in the Collision Damage Appraisal division. The rigorous competition tests students on practical and analytical assessments, including damage estimation, vehicle structural analysis, and technical competencies.
“SkillsUSA is the Olympics of the skilled trades, bringing together some of the nation's most talented students to demonstrate their technical expertise, professionalism, leadership, and commitment to excellence,” said Renee Skrabacz, Dean for Industry and Technology.”
Swanson’s journey to the national stage began in April, when he and a group of 28 Waubonsee students swept the Illinois SkillsUSA State Competition in Peoria. Fellow students representing Waubonsee’s Automotive Collision Repair and Business programs also advanced to compete alongside Swanson in Atlanta.
Swanson's win marks the latest milestone in Waubonsee’s SkillsUSA championship legacy that boasts national gold medals in 2007, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2022, and 2025.
Every year, Waubonsee provides support and funding for student participation at SkillsUSA state and national levels, backed by faculty and staff who invest countless hours into preparing students to compete in their fields of interest. Beyond the competition itself, participants return with increased confidence, enhanced problem-solving skills, and a deeper understanding of the expectations of today's workforce.
“Our goal is to eliminate financial barriers so our students can prove themselves on the national stage,” said Skrabacz.
Swanson is also an example of the success of Waubonsee’s equity work. Driven by a deep passion for auto collision repair, the education major received mentorship and expert guidance outside of his academic program from Ramiro Cervantes, Instructor of Auto Collision and Refinishing Technology.
He is a graduate of Waubonsee’s first-ever Grow Your Own (GYO) Cohort, an initiative designed to support under-represented populations pursuing careers in education and Career and Technical Education (CTE) Pathways. This past spring, Swanson, along with 14 other Waubonsee students, completed the six-week program and engaged with professional mentors, networked with guest speakers, and developed a personalized academic plan. The initiative is backed by a $50,000 state grant in partnership with GYO-IL and the Diverse Male Teacher Initiative.
“This achievement reflects the high standards of excellence we strive for every day in our programs,” said Cervantes.
Learn more about Waubonsee’s award-winning CTE programs at waubonsee.edu/CTE.
Pictured Above: Waubonsee Community College student Benjamin Swanson, of Aurora, was named the national champion in collision damage appraisal at the 2026 SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference. Swanson earned a gold medal at the prestigious event, which took place in Atlanta, Georgia, from June 1–5.
