BHHS Students Earn Top Honors at SkillsUSA State Competition

Beverly Hills High School students earned statewide recognition at the 2026 SkillsUSA State Competition in Ontario, California, with multiple students placing among the top competitors in Career Technical Education events and two seniors advancing to the national competition.

The competition brought together more than 4,000 students across 120 events, testing technical ability, communication, professionalism, leadership and real-world career skills. Thirteen BHHS students competed across seven competition areas, with seven earning podium finishes at Toyota Arena.

Seniors Sara Orpelli and Izzy Zahabian each earned gold medals and will advance to represent California at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.

Orpelli won gold in Restaurant Service, a competition that required students to demonstrate advanced culinary and hospitality skills through live food preparation, menu presentation, table service, a written exam and a professional portfolio.

Zahabian earned gold in Facilities Management, also known as Facilithon, where competitors were tested on critical thinking, emergency response simulations and communication skills. Her performance placed her at the top of the statewide field.

Naomi Yasui earned silver in Job Interview, demonstrating confidence and professionalism through a live mock interview and portfolio presentation.

In Video News Production, Perry Gilardian, Jason Maybaum, Mathias Ramirez and Gunnar Walmsley earned bronze after producing a complete three-minute news broadcast under tight deadlines. The event required scripting, filming, editing and technical assessments.

Several other BHHS students also finished near the top of their fields. Zach Hasson and Jacob Perelmutter placed fourth in Audio Production after creating an NPR-style segment within a 36-hour production window. Piotr Brozda and Oliver Reeb placed fourth in Robotics, where they designed and operated a robot through a complex course while completing technical evaluations.

Lior Pouravrahim placed sixth and Aidan Kleyman placed tenth in the 20-Second Elevator Pitch, an event focused on communication and presentation skills for first-time competitors.

“These accomplishments reflect not only the dedication and talent of our students, but the strength of our Career Technical Education pathways,” said BHUSD Superintendent Dr. Alex Cherniss. “Our students are gaining real-world skills, confidence, and experience that prepare them to lead in a complex and evolving world.”

The district credited the success to a broader team effort across the BHUSD community, recognizing educators Rick Leece, Tessema Garedew, Kyle Newman and John Castle, along with Career Technical Education Coordinator Cindy Dubin, for their work supporting students and expanding career-connected learning opportunities.

The results mark another strong showing for Beverly Hills High School’s Career Technical Education programs, which continue to connect classroom learning with practical skills and competitive experience. BHUSD said it looks forward to supporting Orpelli and Zahabian as they represent California at the national competition this summer.