Assiniboine College Celebrates Medal-Winning Talent at Skills Manitoba

Three Assiniboine College students will advance to the Skills Canada competition later next month in Toronto following a strong showing at Skills Manitoba, held last week in Winnipeg.

Nicole Mogk and Ashley Pogson, from Digital Art and Design; and Dennis Ngendakumana, from the Piping Trades program, competed as part of Team Assiniboine, each earning a gold medal. The annual competition brings together post-secondary, secondary, and apprenticeship students to test their abilities against industry-based standards under challenging time constraints.

In total, 21 Assiniboine students participated in Skills Manitoba competitions. Of those, 15 earned gold, silver, or bronze medals during the multi-day event.

“Skills Manitoba gives students an opportunity to apply what they’ve learned in their program in a real-world, competitive environment,” said Jim DeGraeve, Acting Dean, Trades. “It’s a valuable experience that builds confidence, sharpens technical skills, and connects students directly with industry expectations.”

For Digital Art and Design student Ashley Pogson, the Graphic Design Technology competition closely mirrored what she has been working on in class.

“Our preparation happened right in the classroom. Our instructors design projects that closely reflect what we face at Skills Manitoba, especially in our studio classes, so we were building those skills all along.” she added. I’m originally from Mather, Manitoba, and didn’t want to move to a big city at first; that’s what drew me to Brandon and Assiniboine. Now, heading to Toronto for Skills Canada feels pretty surreal, and I’m really excited to see how the competition unfolds and what the project will be.”

Piping Trades student Dennis Ngendakumana said the Skills Manitoba plumbing competition provided a rewarding challenge in a timed environment.

“It’s definitely stressful working under a tight time limit. You have to be fast with your measurements and calculations, and make sure you don’t make too many mistakes,” he said. “But that pressure really shows how well you understand your trade. I never thought I’d start out in the trades and end up winning provincials, so the fact that I’m now heading to Skills Canada in Toronto is pretty exciting. It’s an opportunity to really test my skills on a national level.”

Rounding out the trio is Elgin’s Nicole Mogk, who competed in the 3D Digital Game Art category. She will now head to Toronto with her Team Manitoba counterparts to compete on the national stage.

“It was surprising but really rewarding to see all the preparation and effort pay off,” said Mogk. “I had a great time competing, and it felt good to know the work I put in positioned me for success. The program has been great because it offers so many opportunities to explore different areas of art. I’ve taken a real interest in 3D, and it’s helped me understand what I want to focus on as my next step after graduating.”

Across the province, more than 500 high school, post-secondary, and apprenticeship students competed in 42 skilled trades and technology contests at this year’s Skills Manitoba event, spanning six industry sectors. Gold medal winners form Team Manitoba, which will compete against their peers at the Skills Canada Competition, taking place in Toronto on May 28 and 29.

Their success comes on the heels of 2025 Digital Art and Design student Brooke Heaman, who will head to World Skills in Shanghai China in September.

Skills competitions help bridge the gap between education and workforce needs, highlighting the growing demand for skilled trades professionals across the country. By exposing students and their supporters to real-world career possibilities, these events reinforce the advantages of trades and technology education—from strong employment prospects to rewarding, future-ready careers.

For more information on Skills Manitoba and a full list of the 2026 winners, please visit the link.