When Mason Miller walked into the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta last week, he already knew what it felt like to compete on the national stage. Last year he came to the SkillsUSA National Championships and placed seventh. He went home, kept working, and came back better.
This year, he won.
Mason Miller of Larned, Kansas is the 2026 National Champion in Commercial Roofing. He defeated more than 6,800 state champions gathered from all 50 states to claim the gold medal and championship belt at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference. Coryell Roofing and Construction is proud to have sponsored him every step of the way.
How the Moment Unfolded
The top three finalists found out they were in contention when their names appeared on the jumbotron inside State Farm Arena. From there, they were called backstage, lined up, and walked onto the stage in front of thousands of people. When the winner was announced, Mason was standing on top.
He is 18 years old.
The competition itself is no small thing. Competitors are given a 10-by-10-foot roofing simulation and four hours to complete it, working through penetrations, parapet walls, TPO membrane seaming, and insulation installation. They receive one variable from judges: which direction the water needs to drain. Everything else is on them. Finishing within the time limit is considered a serious accomplishment. Mason didn’t just finish — he finished first.
The Road That Got Him Here
Mason didn’t grow up planning to be a roofer. He grew up in Larned, a small agricultural community in central Kansas, farming wheat, corn, and beans alongside his family. His path into the trades began almost by accident — a late-night storm, not much to do on the farm, and a call to his aunt who co-owns a local roofing business. Two weeks on a commercial job changed everything.
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. He came back this year and won.
In his own words:
“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
What He Won
Beyond the gold medal and championship belt, Mason walked away with a TPO welder, Milwaukee tool pack-outs, and additional hand tools. Those aren’t going on a shelf. Mason and his best friend already co-own a construction company, and he has commercial roofing projects waiting when he gets back to Kansas. This fall he enrolls at Fort Hays State University to study construction management.
He’s 18. He’s already running jobs, already competing at the highest level, and already building something that lasts.
What This Means to Coryell
The connection between Mason and Coryell came together through a community referral. Mason was looking for sponsors to help fund his trip to Atlanta, a contact led him to us, and one Zoom call was all it took.
Ken Wells, President of Coryell Roofing and Construction, put it simply:
“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
For Coryell, sponsoring Mason wasn’t just about one competition. The skilled trades are facing a generational shortage, and the industry needs young people who are serious, capable, and willing to put in the work. Mason is all of those things. Investing in him is investing in the future of the trade.
We’re proud of you, Mason. Larned, Kansas should be too.
Miss the first post? Read Mason’s full story here: From a Kansas Farm to the National Stage
