Several students from Ponoka Secondary Campus took part in the Canada Skills regional competition last month in Red Deer with five of them coming home with medals.
The competition is open to students in one of 44 different trades that include anything from welding, autobody repair, culinary arts, baking and hairstyling to graphics design, photography, carpentry and television/video production.
Makena Grant captured gold in the intermediate hairstyling category with fellow student Hannah Hahn earning bronze in the event. Meanwhile, gold in baking going to McKenna Christiansen, followed right behind by Emma Holmes who took the silver while Riley DeLeeuw took bronze in the construction event.
Others taking part in the regional competition - where events were held on Friday, April 15 and Thursday, April 28 - Hailey Rauch got an honourable mention in the junior braiding category, while Hayden Krzywy performed well in construction and Nathan Carlson competed in the welding category.
Grant, Christiansen, Holmes and Rebecca Wesner, who automatically goes to provincials in public speaking, now have a shot at a provincial title next week - Wednesday, May 11 and Thursday, May 12 - in Edmonton where a win earns them a spot on Team Alberta at the 2016 Skills Canada National Competition slated for Moncton, New Brunswick that runs June 5 to 8.
PSC teachers Melissa Jacobson and Sherry Christiansen were both proud of what the students accomplished at regionals and extremely happy about the chance three of them have at the provincial level.
“Every year, I am amazed and humbled by these young people - the focus they show and ability to perform under pressure is incredible,” stated Jacobson.