From automotive brake testing to a firefighting ladder challenge, public speaking and a medical terminology exam, 48 students from Chester County’s Technical College High School recently put their learning to the test and emerged as medal winners.

“Participation in SkillsUSA empowers its members to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens,” Advisor Jim Brunken said in a recent announcement. “SkillsUSA improves the quality of America’s skilled workforce through a structured program of citizenship, leadership, employability, technical and professional skills training.”

Key to getting students to rise to the occasion is the 40-category technical and leadership competition as well as the camaraderie among students from as far away as Cumberland and Adams counties.

“I was very nervous,” TCHS’ first-place automotive service technology winner Allison Carr said in the article. “I get nervous under pressure, and I was shocked when I won.”

Read much more about the TCHS students’ local successes, including a full list of results and a sampling of their ambitious future plans, on the school’s website here.