The Skills USA competition was held in Waco Saturday, Feb. 9 where over 1100 students competed this year, making it the largest yet.

Criminal Justice students, under the direction of Ty Whitworth, included Tori Bell, Jaritzy Ochoa, Clarissa Flores, Olivia Coppler, Alexia Morales, and Jillian Rhea who all advanced to State.

Out of 22 contestants, China Blalock placed 7th and Ittzell Fernandez placed 9th in Commercial Baking. Tori Bell placed 4th out of 9 contestants in Extemporaneous Speaking.  Melanie Nungaray placed 4th out of 16 contestants in Restaurant Service. Madison Denson placed 7th out 12 contestants in Prepared Speech. China Blalock placed 9th out of 20 contestants in Job Interview. Kyli Beal placed 4th in Nail Care and placed 4th in Cosmetology Quiz Bowl. Alexia Johnson placed 7th in Cosmetology.

Culinary students won Gold and advanced to State in Entrepreneurship including Ittzell Fernandez, Gabriela Aguilar, Melanie Nungaray, and Madison Denson as well as Bronze in the Quiz Bowl including Ittzell Fernandez, China Blalock, Jillian Rhea, Joshua Hermanns, and Tori Bell.

“I am so very proud of all of their hard work and extra practice”, said Culinary teacher Leslie Rasco.

Print Shop won Gold in Screen Printing Technology with Jordan Cooks as well as Gold in Pin Design with Allyssa White who both advanced to State. They also won Silver in Screen Printing Technology with Benjamin Justice who advanced to State and won the Bronze in T-Shirt Design. Cooks also won Silver in T-Shirt Design.

“Our trip was a success”, said print shop teacher Michael Tavenner. “All of the students worked very hard and I could not be more proud of them.”

State Competition will be held in Corpus Christi on April 5th-7th.