AI learners win prizes, gain skills in NCW Tech Alliance contest

MOSES LAKE — The North Central Washington Tech Alliance Skill-a-Thon has ended, and four Grant County residents are among the winners. 

“The winners walked away … with some knowledge of cybersecurity and different kinds of AI technology,” said David Estrada, NCW Tech Alliance STEM Program manager for Moses Lake.  

More than 200 learners from across North Central Washington joined the 2025 AI Skill-a-Thon, a six-week regional competition designed to help participants gain in-demand digital skills, earn certificates, and compete for cash prizes, according to the NCW Tech Alliance announcement. Sponsored by Microsoft as part of the Community Skills Initiative, the AI Skill-a-Thon offered a self-paced opportunity to explore career-boosting topics like AI, cybersecurity, IT, and data analytics. Participants learned through watching online videos in either English or Spanish, and then took tests on ChatGPT, Copilot and other artificial intelligence, or AI, programs. Each course completed gave the learner a certain number of points as well as a certificate to put on their LinkedIn account. The learners who earned the most points and certificates won cash prizes as well. In addition, competitors who completed a course in cybersecurity or AI were entered into a wild card drawing for cash prizes.  

The winners were: 

• Top Individual: Abinadi Milligan of Moses Lake, with 290 points and 76 certificates  

• Top Team: Sandra Cortes Medina and Francisco Godoy-Cortes of Royal City, with 288 points and 35 certificates  

• AI Pathway Wildcard: Janelle Schmutzler of Wenatchee  

• Cybersecurity Pathway Wildcard: Robert Stoe of Moses Lake 

“This really helped both of us learn a lot, and it was something we got to do together as a family,” Cortes Medina wrote in the announcement. 

This was the fourth year NCW Tech Alliance has held the competition, and Estrada’s first time coordinating it, he said. 

The AI Skill-a-Thon drew 205 participants and 12 teams from across Washington state, collectively earning 239 certificates and 968 points, according to the announcement. The contest was open to residents of Chelan, Douglas, Grant, Okanogan, Adams and Ferry counties. 

This year’s Skill-a-Thon competition has ended, Estrada said, but the courses are still online and available free to NCW Libraries patrons. 

“If you have a library card, you’re going to be able to get these videos throughout your life,” he said.  

The Skill-a-Thon reflects NCW Tech Alliance's mission to help people and organizations harness technology and AI to solve real challenges and spark innovation, according to the announcement. 

“AI is advancing faster than most people realize, and every certificate earned in this competition represents a step toward staying ahead of that curve," Estrada wrote in the announcement. “The impact goes beyond prizes. It's about building confidence, strengthening career pathways, and empowering our communities to adapt and lead in a digital future.” 

    Abinadi Millligan of Moses Lake took first place in the NCW Tech Alliance AI Skill-a-Thon, with 290 points and 76 certificates earned.
  

    Robert Stoe of Moses Lake won the wild card prize for Cybersecurity in the 2025 AI Skill-a-Thonn, hosted by NCW Tech Alliance and sponsored by Microsoft.