Achievements in HVAC
Ariela Vega and Other Female Cobb County Students Have Developed an Affinity for Air Quality
At Cobb Innovation & Technology Academy (CITA), it’s cool to be in the HVAC Pathway – even if you’re a girl. Female students are a common sight in instructor John Martin’s program, and one of them will represent the entire state of Georgia in the SkillsUSA National Championships this June.
In October 2025 Ariela Vega, a junior HVAC dual-enrollment student, finished first at the AGC Georgia Metro Atlanta Skills Challenge in Marietta, where she beat 15 other contestants to secure her spot in the 2026 SkillsUSA Georgia State Championships. She went on to win that competition, one of 21 hosted by Construction Ready in partnership with SkillsUSA.
Ariela’s accomplishment marked the first HVAC state championship for a female in SkillsUSA Georgia history.
“Personally, this win means more than placing first,” Ariela said in a story published by the Cobb County School District. “I want my achievement to be an inspiration to other young ladies and … youth in general that determination and passion are the foundations to becoming a champion.”
Ariela wasn’t the only female from Martin’s program to compete at the SkillsUSA state level. Dipanvita Basdeo (Job Skills Demo A) and Jenny Luu (T-Shirt Design) also represented CITA in the February 20 event at the Georgia World Congress Center. (Pictured at right: Basdeo, Martin, Vega and Luu)
In Job Skills Demo A, Dipanvita’s task was to describe and demonstrate the basic refrigeration cycle as it relates to HVACR. She qualified for the state contest by beating 17 other competitors at the Skills USA Region 3 event in December. Prior to the state championships, Dipanvita was assisted by Gwyneth Heinl, another HVAC Pathway student.
Although Jenny competed in a contest outside her HVAC Pathway, she is a diligent student inside the program, where she has earned the EPA 608 Universal Certification – a vital credential for working in the HVAC Industry – alongside Ariela, Dipanvita and Gwyneth. All four girls entered the CITA program as students at Cobb County’s Osborne High School.
“I think the buzz around the heating and air program interested them, so they signed up for it,” Martin says. “And once they got into it, they loved it.
“I have more girls who are a year or two behind them,” Martin adds. “We had posters printed [of the older group] and these girls were looking at it a few weeks ago and they said, ‘That’s gonna be us next year.’ So it’s highly motivational.”
“I always knew I wanted to pursue a career in the trades,” she says. “It was just a matter of time before I found which trade specifically. As a freshmen I was enrolled in the Carpentry Pathway, but I soon found myself taking an interest in HVAC. I love the endless opportunities and the hands-on work. There’s a ton of variety within HVAC, and coming across new challenges everyday is very intriguing.”
Dipanvita plans to pursue an engineering degree as well. She cites her CITA training in fueling that goal.
“HVAC has been an incredible stepping stone towards my future, and I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything,” she explains. “After taking Mr. Martin’s introductory class and seeing his hands-on approach, interactive projects, and the passion he brings to the pathway, I became curious and motivated to join the program.”
Martin himself is an Osborne High graduate. He studied HVAC at Chattahoochee Tech, worked in industry, and returned to teach at his alma mater five years ago. For him and dozens of other instructors Construction Ready supports around the state, training the next generation is a labor of love that is steadily helping close the construction industry’s skilled-labor gap.
“Mr. Martin teaches with passion and not just for money,” Jenny says. “He has helped me grow as a person and taught me skills I never thought I’d know.”
Adds Dipanvita: “Mr. Martin is always there for me when I need a little encouragement. Without him, I wouldn’t be able to compete and have the full HVACR experience. Instead of just reading from a textbook, we spend time in the lab working directly with real HVACR units. Being able to take things apart, diagnose issues, and problem-solve in real time helps me understand the material much better because I can visually see what’s happening.”
Martin, likewise, is complimentary of his students. “I just knew that I had something special this year, really special,” he said in the Cobb County School District story. “I’m not sure if this will ever happen again, but there are a lot of firsts for us. I’m just super proud of these girls.”
“I think it’s super cool for us women,” Jenny says. “These are trades typically dominated by males and you rarely see females, so I think it’s great.”
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
VIDEO FEATURES
Copyright © 2026 Construction Ready. All Rights Reserved.
