Victory Underscores the TSBPE’s Commitment to Educational Pathways to the Plumbing Trade in Texas
ATLANTA, GA – July 2025 – The Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE) and Texas State Technical College (TSTC) are proud to announce that TSTC Waco student Jonathan Gann has won the gold medal in plumbing at the 2025 SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference held recently in Atlanta. This national championship follows TSTC’s impressive sweep of all three medals in the plumbing category at the state-level competition earlier this year.
“This is a strong indicator of the overall quality of our faculty and our plumbing program,” said Mike Reeser, Chancellor of Texas State Technical College. “These accomplishments by our students in head-to-head intercollegiate competition validate the confidence TSBPE placed in us when they decided to provide our graduates with expedited access to entry-level certification. We’re so very proud of Jonathan and all our medal winners.”
Frank S. Denton, Chairman of the TSBPE, was equally as thrilled with the big win: “Jonathan’s national victory is a testament to the caliber of plumbing education we strive to support across Texas. Jonathan’s win, along with our ongoing partnership with TSTC, show that supporting quality technical training produces world-class professionals who will uphold the integrity and safety of our industry when they enter the workforce.”
Lisa G. Hill, Executive Director of the TSBPE, added: “The success of TSTC students on both state and national stages reinforces our commitment to supporting educational pathways that prepare the next generation of licensed plumbers.”
The TSBPE and TSTC partnership, which includes a TSBPE Exam Center on TSTC’s Waco campus, creates streamlined opportunities for qualified graduates to enter the plumbing profession. Sixty high schools and seven trade schools in Texas currently offer similar plumbing programs developed by the TSBPE and the Texas Education Agency (TEA) with the first crop of graduates from these programs having just finished their studies in May/June of 2025. These new graduates, including TSTC’s competition winners, represent the next generation of licensed plumbing professionals ready to serve communities across Texas.
For more information about plumbing licensing in Texas, visit tsbpe.texas.gov
###
About the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners
The Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE) is responsible for licensing and regulating the plumbing industry in Texas. With a focus on protecting the public health and safety, TSBPE ensures that all plumbers meet the necessary requirements and adhere to the highest standards of professionalism and expertise. For more information, visit: tsbpe.texas.gov
About Texas State Technical College
Texas State Technical College (TSTC) is a public two-year college dedicated to providing students with the necessary skills and education to excel in their chosen career fields. With a strong focus on hands-on training, TSTC offers a wide range of programs in various industries, including plumbing, to prepare students for the workforce and ensure they are equipped with the knowledge and expertise to succeed. See tstc.edu for more information.
About SkillsUSA
SkillsUSA is America’s proud champion of the skilled trades. Representing nearly 380,000 career and technical education students and teachers, SkillsUSA chapters thrive in middle schools, high schools and college/postsecondary institutions nationwide. SkillsUSA’s mission empowers students to become skilled professionals, career-ready leaders and responsible community members. A vital solution to the skills gap, where more in-demand skilled trades positions are available than qualified professionals to fill them, SkillsUSA has served over 14 million difference-making members since 1965. For more, visit skillsusa.org