Larned, Kansas Teen Wins National Championship in Commercial Roofing at SkillsUSA National Championships
Coryell Roofing is proud to announce that Mason Miller of Larned, Kansas, the company’s sponsored competitor at the 2026 SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference (NLSC), has been named the National Champion in Commercial Roofing. Miller, 18, defeated more than 6,800 state champions gathered from all 50 states at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, claiming the gold medal and championship belt in one of the most competitive skilled trades events in the country.
The top three finalists were revealed on the jumbotron inside State Farm Arena before being called backstage and introduced to the crowd. Miller’s name was among them. When the winner was announced, he was standing on top. It was his second appearance at the NLSC, having placed seventh in his first national competition the year prior. This year, he came back ready to finish – and he did.
The commercial roofing competition required competitors to complete a 10-by-10-foot roofing simulation in four hours, covering penetrations, parapet walls, TPO membrane seaming, and insulation installation. Competitors received one variable from judges: which direction the water must drain. Everything else was on them. Finishing within the time limit is considered a significant accomplishment in itself. Miller not only finished, he finished first.
“We knew Mason was special from the moment we connected with him, but watching him come home as the national champion is something else entirely. He’s exactly the kind of young person this industry needs more of, and we couldn’t be prouder to have played even a small role in this moment.”
— Ken Wells, President, Coryell Roofing and Construction
Miller’s path to the national stage began almost by accident. Growing up in Larned, a small agricultural community in central Kansas, he spent summers farming wheat, corn, and beans alongside his family. After a late-night storm left him without much to do on the farm, he reached out to his aunt, who co-owns a local roofing business. Two weeks on a commercial job changed his direction. He enrolled in the NRCA TRAC program, trained through SkillsUSA at Larned High School under advisor Adam Hewson, and placed seventh at nationals in his first attempt. This year, he returned and won.
“I always like walking the walk. When I can put my skills to the test, it helps me know where I stand. If I’m doing good, the people around me are doing good as well.”
— Mason Miller, 2026 National Champion, Commercial Roofing
In addition to the gold medal and championship belt, Miller received a TPO welder, Milwaukee tool pack-outs, and additional hand tools as competition prizes. The awards will go straight to work. Miller and his best friend co-founded their own construction company several months ago and already have commercial roofing projects lined up. This fall, he will enroll at Fort Hays State University to study construction management, with his family’s roofing business helping him navigate the licensing process as his operation grows.
The sponsorship came together through a community connection. Miller reached out to local contacts when he was looking for support to attend nationals, and the relationship led to Coryell Roofing. For Coryell, the investment reflects a commitment the company has long held: the skilled trades need champions at every level, from the jobsite to the classroom to the national competition stage.
The SkillsUSA NLSC ran June 1-5, 2026, at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, spanning approximately 1.8 million square feet across 115 competition categories. More than 19,000 attendees participated, including students, educators, and industry partners from all 50 states.
About Coryell Roofing and Construction
Coryell Roofing and Construction is a commercial roofing contractor founded by Chris and Theresa Coryell and headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The company operates across ten states, including Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas. A Duro-Last Platinum Contractor and recipient of the 2023 Duro-Last Contractor of the Year award, Coryell was also named 2024 Commercial Contractor of the Year by Roofing Contractor Magazine. For more information, visit coryellroofing.com or call (866) 858-2081.
About SkillsUSA
SkillsUSA is the number one workforce development organization for students, empowering them to become skilled professionals, career-ready leaders, and responsible community members. Representing more than 444,000 career and technical education students and teachers in middle schools, high schools, and college and postsecondary institutions nationwide, SkillsUSA has served more than 15 million members since its founding in 1965. Learn more at skillsusa.org.
Media Contact
Company Name: Coryell Roofing and Construction
Contact Person: Janelle Nightingale
Email: Send Email
Country: United States
Website: https://coryellroofing.com/
