Sub-zero temperatures Jan. 22 led to a delayed start for the SkillsUSA Council District 11 Championships, but LCTI’s students wasted no time turning up the heat on their competitors at Allentown Fairgrounds’ Agri-Plex.

They notched 21 medals with technical prowess that impressed judges and wowed spectators who turned out for the 39th annual event. Gold medalists, including 11 from Lehigh Career and Technical Institute, qualified to compete April 2-4 at the SkillsUSA state competition in Hershey.

The championships drew hundreds of participants from seven schools across five counties to the Agri-Plex. They competed in individual and team contests of skill ranging from advertising design to welding. Dozens of Lehigh Valley businesses sponsored the competition, which provides opportunities for students to apply what they’ve learned in challenging scenarios that mimic the demands of a 21st-century workplace.

The medalists for each SkillsUSA contest were announced during a ceremony at Parkland High School. LCTI’s top finishers from Whitehall High School were Nisreen Al-Bajali, nail care-team, cosmetology, third place; Dallas Dohanish, CNC programmer, precision machine tool technology, third place; Jacob Figueroa, plumbing, plumbing and heating, second place; Nylah Hicks, nail care-team (model), cosmetology, third place; and Cole Vernon, building construction, building trades, third place.

Last year, District 11 sent 96 students to states and 50 of them brought home medals. Fifteen of those medalists competed for a national championship and three of them succeeded. LCTI’s Brayden Arnold was among the three; he won gold for motorcycle service technology.

SkillsUSA is one of eight career and technical student organizations at LCTI. Health and medical sciences teacher Heather Mariotti, school counselor Cory Schnaufer and precision machine tool technology teacher Aaron Schock serve as chapter advisers.