Six Mars Area High School students who attend Butler County Area Vocational-Technical School placed in the 2018 SkillsUSA “Champions at Work” District 10 Competition, held Jan. 12 at New Castle School of Trade.

Senior Abby Yankel, a Cosmetology student, earned a Gold Medal in the Action Skills contest. Seniors Vanessa Morrow and Mia Morales, both Cosmetology students, each received Gold Medals in the Job Skill Demonstration Open Contest and Job Skill Demonstration Open (Model) Contest, respectively.

Senior Clay Merriman, an Automotive Technology I student, received a Silver Medal in the Auto Service Technology contest; senior Jerome Nacey, a Heavy Equipment student, earned a Silver Medal in the Diesel Equipment Technology contest; and senior Robert Samarin, a Protective Services student, received a Silver Medal in the Fire Fighting contest.

The students competed against high school students from other District 10 career and technical education centers. The SkillsUSA competition reinforces the field-related skills that students are learning in the classroom as well as their leadership prowess.

All Gold Medal winners will advance to the SkillsUSA Pennsylvania State Conference, to be held April 18-20 in Hershey, Pa. For more information, visit www.butlertec.us.