Students from Summa College achieved impressive results at the national competition Skills The Finals 2026, a national championship for MBO students held in Den Bosch. The team brought home a total of seven medals: two gold, two silver, and three bronze.
Medallists
The two gold medal winners are now national champions in their respective fields. Yven Swinkels, 20, from Aarle-Rixtel, took the top spot in the Retail Entrepreneur category. Lize de Wildt, 17, from Doorn, also won gold in the Pastry Chef (patissier) category. Both students will hold their titles as Dutch champions for the next year.
Silver medals were awarded to Marit-Tessa van den Boogaard, 18, from Valkenswaard, in the Beautician category, and Max van Nieuwaal, 20, from Beusichem, in the Baker (boulanger) category. This was a significant achievement for Max, who matched his second-place performance from the previous year.
The college also secured three bronze medals. Romaysa Laamairi, 18, from Best, placed third in the Management Assistant category. Vera Benedix, 20, from Kronenberg, won bronze in Business Accounting, while Sven Videler, 18, from Heibloem, took third place in the Sport category.
Preparation and praise
Jochem Meulesteen, a member of the Executive Board at Summa, praised the students for their dedication. He noted that he was impressed by their level of focus and professional skill. He also highlighted the vital role of the teachers, stating that the success was a result of their guidance and belief in the students.
The finals in Den Bosch followed months of intensive training and regional selection rounds. Skills Heroes is the national championship for vocational (mbo) students, where participants compete against the best in their trade. This year, 26 Summa students competed across 23 different categories.
Skills The Finals is an initiative by WorldSkills Netherlands and celebrated its ninth edition this year. The event attracts over 30,000 visitors annually, including students, teachers, and policymakers. The 2026 edition was supported by several regional educational partners and over 200 businesses.
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