Star Valley High School students showcased their talents at the recent SkillsUSA state competition in Casper, with nine participants earning awards across multiple categories.

The 17-member delegation, consisting of eight returning competitors and nine newcomers, demonstrated proficiency in career-focused skills ranging from architectural drafting to public speaking.

Amelia Green captured first place in Architectural Drafting and said, “”My experience was pretty great. You get to meet people that like the things you do and gain workplace experience. I put a lot of hard work and dedication into my projects so winning felt very rewarding.”

While Cooper Daniel won top honors in Extemporaneous Speaking, Hailee Myers and Sydney Saltzman collaborated to win first place in the Digital Cinema team competition.

Carson Draney secured first place in Carpentry. He said, “It was nice to win, and it gave a big sense of accomplishment, knowing that I could win. It was a great experience at SkillsUSA. I met many cool people, including my competitors. The facilities were great, and I’m grateful for Casper College and the many other sponsors and supporters. I felt like I did a fairly good job overall; I put in all of my effort, and it paid off.”

Second-place finishers included Scarlet Weber in Architectural Design and Sydney Saltzman in Pin Design. The school’s Quiz Bowl team placed third, with team members Amelia Green, Hailee Myers, McKenna Klindt, Scarlet Weber, Sydney Saltzman, McKray Barnes and Anna Olofson.

Students also competed in Mobile Robotics, Early Childhood Development, Job Interview, Job Skill Demonstration, Automotive, Welding, Advertising Design, Medical Terminology and Photography events.

SkillsUSA provides students with opportunities to prepare for future careers through high-level competition while developing professional skills in interviewing, communication, résumé writing and teamwork.

School officials expressed pride in the team’s representation of Star Valley High School and anticipate continued participation in future competitions.