?Joliet West Junior Calloway Walsh Makes History With Gold Medal Win

(The following edited press release from Joliet Township High School District 204 was sent by Kristine Schlismann.)

JOLIET, IL ? Joliet West High School is proud to announce a historic achievement by junior Calloway Walsh, who earned a gold medal in the Prepared Speech category at the 2025 SkillsUSA Illinois State Championships. With this victory, Walsh becomes the first student in Joliet Township history to win gold and qualify for the prestigious SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference, which will be held in Atlanta, Georgia from June 23?27, 2025.

The competition, hosted at the state level in April, brought together top students from across Illinois to compete in more than 100 career-related contests. In the Prepared Speech event, participants are tasked with crafting and delivering an original 5?7-minute speech that reflects the annual theme and demonstrates the three pillars of the SkillsUSA Framework Triangle: personal, technical, and workplace skills.

Walsh attributes her success to a powerful support network, including the JTHS Foundation which is generously funding the trip to Atlanta. ?I want to thank the JTHS Foundation for their undeniable support and dedication through this once-in-a-lifetime experience. I also couldn?t have achieved this without Mrs. Hager, Mr. Fabris, and the SkillsUSA members from our district (including my best friend, Karina), who pushed me to reach new limits,? Walsh said. ?Finally, I am appreciative of my Speech Team coaches, Mrs. Blake and Mr. Nardi, for helping me perfect my craft over the last three years.?

SkillsUSA is a national organization serving middle school, high school, and college students by hosting skill-based competitions across industries including technical trades, healthcare, and leadership development. The Prepared Speech event emphasizes both communication and professionalism?skills Calloway has developed throughout her academic journey at Joliet West.