UP high schoolers compete for scholarships in skills competition – WLUC

ESCANABA, Mich. (WLUC) – On Friday, Upper Peninsula high schoolers tested their skills in computer maintenance technology, welding and automotive categories at the 2025 SkillsUSA Regional Competition at Bay College.
About 45 juniors and seniors from across the U.P. competed to win scholarships and a chance to go to the state championship.
“To compete in a competition as a high school student is very demanding,” Bay College Business, Technology, Workforce Dean Jim Cousino said. “It takes a certain amount of character to do that and that’s why it’s great to see the number of students we have.”
The competition usually has close to 70 students, but the Eastern U.P. Intermediate School District had to cancel. The Copper Country and Delta-Schoolcraft ISDs had students at the event.
Manistique High School Junior Britt Frain competed in automotive for the first time.
“Kind of nervous. I’ve never been here. I don’t know what’s going to be looking like,” Frain said. “Hard, easy, I’m not sure. So, I’m glad to be here.”
SkillsUSA is a workforce development organization for high schoolers on a career and technical education path. This year’s theme was ‘Ignite Your Potential.”
“What this does is it gets their skills, and it gets assessed by experts in the field to actually measure their competency and give them targets to shoot for,” Cousino said. “And it’s just to highlight what they’ve accomplished.”
Gladstone High School Junior Mason Peltin also competed for the first time.
“I’m actually feeling pretty good,” Peltin said. “I mean, all my teachers have confidence in me. They think I’ll do pretty well.”
Students could win college scholarships for placing in the top spots. Bay College planned to give four $2,500 scholarships to students who placed first in the overall categories and four $1,000 scholarships to students who placed second in the overall categories.
The top three finishers out of the 45 students at Friday’s event advanced to the State Leadership and Skills Conference scheduled for April 11-13 in Grand Rapids.
Click here to learn more about SkillsUSA’s vision and commitment to career success for youth.
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