Students from Salina Area Technical College brought home nine medals from the Kansas SkillsUSA competition in Hutchinson this past week. Three students won gold medals, qualifying them to compete at the national SkillsUSA conference in Louisville, Kentucky in June.

Salina Tech medalists were:

Gold

• Ethan Oestmann, a senior at Smoky Valley High School, in the high school division of the Diesel Equipment Technology competition;
• Emilee Whelchel, from Mankato, in the college division of the Dental Assisting competition
• Seth Nelson, of Lindsborg, in the college division of the Diesel Equipment Technology competition.

Silver

• Janaina Koop, of Salina, in the college division of the Dental Assisting competition.

Bronze

• Tripp Goossen, of Beverly, in the high school division of the Diesel Equipment Technology competition;
• Merry Lewis, of Salina, in the college division of the Architectural Drafting competition;
• Ethan Nelson, a junior at Smoky Valley High School, in the high school division of the CNC Milling competition;
• Ruth Soto, of Salina, in the college division of the Dental Assisting competition;
• Kayle Wilderman, of Salina, in the college division of the Precision Machining Technology competition.

SkillsUSA is a nationwide organization serving more than 280,000 high school and college students and professionals who are enrolled in training programs in technical, skilled, and service occupations, including health care.