Austin students showed off their skills at the annual Skills Conference in April.

The SkillsUSA Championships, held in Bloomington, Minnesota, took place April 10-12, 2015, as part of the SkillsUSA 48th annual State Leadership and Skills Conference.

The conference was a showcase of career and technical education students where more than 800 students competed in 75 hands-on trade, technical and leadership contests.

Eight Austin High School students received first and second place in several competitions at the conference.

During the weekend, hundreds of local contest winners competed in different trade, technical and leadership fields. During the state competition, students worked against the clock and each other in occupations like welding, computer-aided drafting, precision machining, medical assisting and culinary arts.

The SkillsUSA Championships is for high school and college-level students who are members of SkillsUSA. SkillsUSA first place winners will represent Minnesota in Louisville, Kentucky this June 22-26, 2015, for the 51st annual National Leadership and Skills Conference, a showcase of career and technical education students.

For more information, visit www.mnskillsusa.org or www.skillsusa.org/events/nlsc.shtml

 Austin High School state competitors included  

Corey Todalen, Christine Nelson, Aren Willner, Andrew Forbes, Blake Forbes, Leah Meineke

 State winners were:

Corey Todalen, first place in graphic imaging-sublimation

Aren Willner, second place in screen printing

Andrea Forbes, Blake Forbes, Corey Todalen, Leah Meineke, Christine Nelson and Aren Willner, second place in quiz bowl