Approximately 120 high school students demonstrated their skills in the annual Career Tech Skills Challenge March 18 at Northwest-Shoals Community College. Russellville High School and the Franklin County Career Technical Center students competed for Franklin County.

The welding competition featured four contests: 7018, stick welding; 6010, stick welding; flux core, which is wire welding; and torch. Each school was divided into dual enrollment/dual credit, non-dual enrollment/dual credit and agriculture department students.

RHS’ Grayson Thorpe and Emitt Green competed in the welding contests. Thorpe placed first in the 7018 welding contest, and Green placed first in the 6010 welding contest. Thorpe and Green are enrolled in the NW-SCC dual enrollment welding program at RHS.

The FCCTC welding team included Brandon McCleese, Allissa Brown, Brenan Misner, Billy Horton and Tre Ashley.

“I’m really proud of all of the welding students who competed,” said welding instructor Justin Steele. “One of the kids who didn’t place won the Lawrence County competition for flux core a couple of weeks ago. Green also won 6010 at Lawrence County.

“These kids have done a great job for me the past two years, and I’m very proud of all of them,” Steele said. “Even the ones that didn’t place, they’ve all worked really hard this year.”

Will Spears, DJ Hayward, Seth Sykes and Bo Lemay competed for the FCCTC industrial maintenance department. “I’m super proud of these guys for the hard work they put into this competition,” said industrial maintenance instructor Dustan King. “They represented our class well.”

The salon and spa skills competition featured contests in cosmetology, barbering, esthetics and nails. FCCTC cosmetology students placed in barbering, fantasy face paint and cosmetology.

In barbering, Kevin Arango placed first, and Byron Cotoc placed second.

In fantasy face paint, Kyra Rollins placed second, and Hope Morgan placed third.

In cosmetology, Katie Gentry placed first.

“The talent they all have is exceptional,” said FCCTC cosmetology instructor Danielle Hargett. “The students went above and beyond my expectations with this competition, and I am excited for our state competition that will be held at the end of April. I am proud of their hard work and dedication, and I am pleased to be an instructor for such amazing students.”

Judges for the competition consisted of business and industry partners.