2026 Competition at VERTICON Results: Rising All-Stars!
A group of students from Rising Aviation High School didn’t just show up to compete, they dominated. Rising Aviation earned the highest score in seven of nine events, propelling them to victory at the second annual Competition at VERTICON, presented by Snap-on, held during the 2026 VERTICON convention in Atlanta earlier this month. This marked the school’s first appearance in any national skills competition.
“We thought just being here would be a great experience for the kids and good for the school,” said Pete Miller, Aviation Maintenance and Technology Instructor at Rising Aviation High School. “I’m beyond thrilled for our students; they were the ones who achieved this.
“There’s definitely going to be a new attitude at the school. They know now that they have what it takes to succeed in this field. My goal is to develop competent, professional mechanics, and this is a huge step in that direction.”
Based in Addison, Texas, Rising Aviation High School is a private institution offering a STEAM-focused curriculum (Science, Technology, Engineering, Aviation, and Math) with an emphasis on aviation and aerospace technology. The school prepares students to continue their academic studies in college or trade school and pursue careers in aviation.
Now in its second year, The Competition at VERTICON is an aviation skills event hosted by the Aerospace Maintenance Council (www.amccompetition.com). The event gives licensed AMTs, AMEs, military personnel, and qualified aviation maintenance students the opportunity to test their skills against their peers. This year’s competition in Atlanta featured 22 teams, two commercials, six military, and 14 schools, competing in areas such as safety wiring, torque application, thrust reverser troubleshooting, and borescope inspection. Teams had 15 minutes to complete each task accurately; those who finished early and met safety standards earned higher scores, while errors resulted in deductions.
Each of the nine events was officiated by a corporate sponsor and included prizes for top performers. As overall champions, Miller, assistant coach and school principal Kassandra Dena, and student competitors Garrett Moore, Jaden Barraza, and Thomas (TJ) Wilson took home a replica helicopter crafted from Snap-on tools. A full list of event sponsors and results can be found here: The Competition at VERTICON: 2026 Results & Highlights – Aerospace Maintenance Council.
Snap-on’s role as presenting sponsor of The Competition at VERTICON and the Council’s flagship event, The Competition at MRO Americas, underscores the company’s ongoing commitment to aviation maintenance technicians worldwide. This year, Snap-on is donating more than $150,000 in tools and equipment prizes for top finishers in both events.
Click here to watch a short video highlighting Rising Aviation High School’s achievements at the 2026 Competition at VERTICON: https://youtu.be/DyPF1XHbm-c
For more information about Snap-on, call 877.740.1900 or visit https://www.snapon.com/Aviation. For more information on The Competition at VERTICON or MRO Americas, visit www.amccompetition.com.
