Education

Seneca Valley Students Win Gold in Maryland, Top Ten Finish at National Video Game Development Competition

By MCS Staff

Seneca Valley High School in Germantown, MD, has once again showcased its talent and dedication in the field of skilled trades by participating in SkillsUSA for the second consecutive year. This year, two exceptional 10th-grade students, Jayden Williams and Kedus Anteneh, traveled to Atlanta, GA, to compete in the SkillsUSA National Interactive Application and Video Game Development Competition, where they earned Gold in Maryland and a Top Ten finish nationally.

SkillsUSA is a national organization dedicated to promoting careers in the skilled trades, offering local, regional, and national competitions annually. This year marked the second participation of Seneca Valley High School in the competition. Career and Technology Education (CTE) students from across the nation are eligible to compete as long as they are enrolled in a CTE class. Notably, Seneca Valley and Edison High School were the only Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) to take part in the event this year. The competition draws schools from all 50 states and U.S. Territories.

Despite the absence of an official club for students who choose to compete, Seneca Valley students receive support and guidance from their teachers. The students’ self-motivation, coupled with encouragement and feedback from Mr. Andrew Wilson, the video game design teacher, played a crucial role in their success.

The competition required participants to create a video game, a trailer, and an introduction about the game, along with official documentation of the creative process. The game, titled “The Next Update,” is a local multiplayer 1v1 game featuring characters from games previously created by the team. Developed using the Godot game engine, the game employs GD script for programming. The team began working on the project in November 2024 and competed in the SkillsUSA Maryland state competition in February. Initially nervous and hoping for a third-place finish, they exceeded expectations by winning first place in Maryland, securing their spot in the national competition in Atlanta.

The competition in Atlanta included a week of information sessions and tasks at the Georgia World Congress Center. After rigorous preparation and performance, the team learned during the closing ceremony on June 27th that they had placed in the top 10 nationally.

The entire team comprised six students, although SkillsUSA only permits two students to compete. Leah Brown and Lynn Geese contributed to the animation, Matthew Perez developed concept art for the characters and maps, and Kevin Gonzalez composed the music. Jayden Williams and Kedus Anteneh took charge of marketing, programming, and designing both the creative and technical aspects of “The Next Update.”

In addition to the video game competition, another 10th-grade student from Seneca Valley High School, Jacob Carreras, achieved first place in Maryland in the customer service competition as part of the school’s Hospitality and Tourism Management Program. Information courtesy of Seneca Valley Assistant Principal/CTE Coordinator Adrian Charley.