Four Northern Lehigh students medaled at the recent SkillsUSA Council District 11 Championships.

While subzero temperatures on Jan. 22 led to a delayed start at the Allentown Fairgrounds’ Agri-Plex, that didn’t prevent Lehigh Career & Technical Institute students from turning heads.

A total of 21 medals were notched with technical prowess that impressed judges and wowed spectators who turned out for the 39th annual event.

The championships drew hundreds of participants from seven schools across five counties who competed in individual and team contests of skill ranging from advertising design to welding.

Dozens of Lehigh Valley businesses sponsor 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.

Gold medalists, including 11 from LCTI, qualified to compete April 2-4 at the SkillsUSA state competition in Hershey.

Students from Northern Lehigh School District who medaled, and their competition categories, are as follows:

• Jonathan Erkinger, first place, Power Equipment Technology, Small Engines/ Recreational Vehicle Repair.

• Gage Tessitore, first place, Electronics Technology, Electronics Technology.

• Gage Simpson, second place, TeamWorks, Team Carpentry.

• Seth Winch, second place, Mechatronics, Team Automated Industrial Technology.

In addition, seven Northwestern Lehigh School District medaled as well:

• Jasper Delong, first place, Automated Manufacturing, Team Precision Machine Tool Technology.

• Owen Rex, first place, Welding, Welding Technology.

• Cody Utt, first place, Automated Manufacturing, Team Precision Machine Tool Technology.

• Logan Baugher, second place, Welding, Welding Technology.

• Joshua Earles, second place, Mechatronics, Team Automated Industrial Technology

• Caden Scheirer, second place, Graphic Communications, Print Technology/Graphic Imaging.

• Rachel Wade, second place, Basic Health Care, Health & Medical Sciences.

Last year, District 11 sent 96 students to states and 50 of them brought home medals; 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 & Medical Sciences teacher Heather Mariotti, school counselor Cory Schnaufer and Precision Machine Tool Technology teacher Aaron Schock serve as chapter advisers.