The Royal SkillsUSA Chapter competed on various weekends in February, at the District 9 SkillsUSA Competition at multiple locations around the Houston area, with 45 students qualifying for the State Competition in Corpus Christi, April 3rd through April 6th.

The Royal Arts, Audio/Video Production Department competed in multiple A/V contests including Advertising Design, Quiz Bowl, Photography, Customer Service, and Prepared Speech. Gabriel Velasquez came away with the silver medal and was named District Runner-up Champion in Advertising Design for multiple creative designs for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Gabriel also competed in Prepared Speech. The Quiz Bowl team earned the gold medal as District 9 Quiz Bowl Champions. Team members include Layla Thompson, Elisha Glover, Elizabeth Moreland, Kimberly Pedraza, and Gabriel Velasquez. Elizabeth Moreland and Elisha Glover also competed in Photography and earned fourth and fifth places. Elisha Glover also competed in Customer Service and represented Royal SkillsUSA.

The Royal Automotive Department competed in SkillsUSA Automotive at San Jacinto Jr. College, but participants did not qualify for State.

The Royal Cosmetology Department competed in multiple Cosmetology programs that included both Live competitions and Project Exhibits. The contest included Barbering, Cosmetology, Esthetics, Quiz Bowl, Day and Evening Job Exhibit, Fantasy Job Exhibit, Men's Classic Hair Cutting Job Exhibit, Braiding Job Exhibit and Women's Color and Cut Job Exhibit, 3D Nail Art Job Exhibit and Flat Nail Art Job Exhibit. District winners headed to State with first and second place winnings for Barbering are Kevin Izquierdo first place; Cosmetology are Jessica Calvillo second place; Esthetics are Alexa Rivas second place, America Palacios third place. Cosmetology Quiz bowl are Yoselyn Arriaga, Esteban Carranza, Jessica Calvillo, Shaelyn Gomez, Sandra Montalvo and Annabella Parada third place; Day and Evening Job Exhibit first place winners Lizmar Parra, Xitlaly Larios, Yoselyn Arriaga and Annabella Parada. Fantasy Job Exhibit first place winners Dulce Hernandez, Vilma Martinez, Kristine Ramirez, Ariana Anaya, Marlene Melendez, Melody Oviedo, Esteban Carranza and Peyton Fontenot. Women’s Color and Cut first place winner Jessica Calvillo. Men’s Classic HairCut Job Exhibit first place winner Steven Barley and Jaiden Wilkins. Braiding. Job Exhibit first place winner Aydreanna Stamps and Jackyline Chavez. 3D Nails Job Exhibit first place winners Sarahi Mendoza Sanchez, Dayrin Aguilar and Natali Gomez-Nino; Flat Nail Art Job Exhibit first place winner Maria Marin. Salon Job Exhibit first place winner Sandra Montalvo.

The Royal Health Science Department competed in multiple Health Science SkillsUSA contests during February, including medical terminology, exhibition of technical Health Science Skills, medical math, dental assisting, nurse assisting, basic healthcare skills, and health knowledge bowl. Health Knowledge Bowl took home the silver medal. The team of four students were Danahe Alcantar, Daniel Hernandez, Issac Martinez, and Kyla Thomas. District Winners headed to state for Medical Math placing first are Monica Hernandez and third place Ulysses Palacios. Isaac Martinez took home silver for Nurse Assisting and George Taylor brought back the bronze medal for basic health care skills. With dental assisting Sherissa Pierre placed silver and Daniel Hernandez brought back the bronze medal. Superior Perfect score district winners headed to state for Health Science Display Panel are Danahe Alcanter, Rebeca Arvizo, Adam Hernandez, Daniel Hernandez, Monica Hernandez, Isaac Martinez, Ulysses Palacios, Mauricio Perez, Sherissa Pierre, Yessica Rodriguez, George Taylor, and Kyla Thomas, and Kaely Villfana.

The Royal Welding Department competed in the hands-on welding competition as well as entering a project into the Welding Sculpture category. The hands-on students were James Oviedo and Jairo Marquez for the welding category and Kevin Weatherford and Jose Vega for the welding 1 category. Kevin Weatherford received first place in the welding 1 category and will be advancing to the state level contest, representing Royal. Jose Vega entered a project into the welding sculpture category and earned third place overall.

The Royal Machining Department had four Job Exhibit entries, with one of them earning a Superior Rating and qualifying to compete at the State Level in Corpus Christi. Superior Rating, Miguel Hernandez- 12th grade and brother Eric Hernadez 11th grade machined an Aluminum Chess Set. A second project presented by Alex Castillo - 11th grade came short of points and earned a State Very Good Rating. Miguel Hernandez -12th grade won First Place District Champion on Leadership & Skills. He is a State Qualified and will be competing in Corpus Christi at the State Conference.