Before the 1st period bell had even rang, students from a variety of classes and organizations loaded a bus heading to Hot Springs, Arkansas. There, they were to put their industry know-how to the test at Skills USA.

The competition opens up doors for students to go to colleges, obtain scholarships, and find potential professions in interest areas such as advertising and graphic design, drafting, cabinetry, and television production.

“I think Skills is important for three main reasons,” said advertising and graphic design teacher Chantelle Rateliff. “The kids get exposure, experience, and opportunities.”

Until the contestants arrive for the competition and take their seats, they have no clue what their assignment is to be for the evening.

“There isn’t much of a way to prepare for competition until they tell you the subject,” said senior Ashley Duckworth. “So to prepare, we decided that no matter if we win or lose, we are still winners in our own eyes.”

Duckworth and her partner, Sarah Smith, ended up winning a gold medal for creating a 30 second commercial about Skills USA in their allotted four hours.

Medals were brought home in nearly every category entered.

First time participant and junior, Kasie Wade, was awarded the bronze for the creation of a logo and brochure on retirement in Arkansas.

“The competition was stressful, and the task wasn’t one of my strong points. But I still gave it a shot,” said Wade. “It was awesome to have my designs brought to life on the computer, which is my favorite part of graphic design. The worst part of it all was that the competition lasted 8 hours nonstop and waiting for the results.”

On the other hand, some students went to Skills USA for another shot at doing better than they had done the previous year.

“I went last year and I got 4th place,” said senior Mason Thomas. “Last year the people in front of me were seniors.”

At the closing award ceremony, Thomas was rewarded with the first place medal for technical drafting.

As the contests were going on, students from every category were put into one big arena: TV production students were running around, graphic designers and drafting students were corralled into their work corners, and carpenters hammered away at wooden structures while rays of red light illuminated the back walls from the welders obscured behind lead drapes.

In the midst of the chaos, teachers were allowed to observe their students at work. They were not allowed to give any advice or opinions as that would result and automatic disqualification for that student.

“I was mostly excited seeing everyone hard at work and designing great pieces,” said Mrs. Rateliff. “I was also stressed though, because I didn’t trust the tiny printer we brought. In the end, I was just proud in knowing that my students did their best work possible.”