Tyrone Class of 2025 graduate Alex Thompson already earned his diploma on May 30, but he still has some unfinished high school business to take care of from June 23-25 in Atlanta, GA.
Thompson will represent the state of Pennsylvania against finalists from the other 49 states in the Power Equipment Technology category at the 2025 National SkillsUSA Competition.
Thompson was a student in the Powersports and Equipment Technology Program at the Greater Altoona Career and Technology Center.
He won in his division at the SkillsUSA District 7 competition in March and took first at the state competition in Hershey on April 3-5.
SkillsUSA is a national organization that supports education in the skilled trades.
According to their website, their mission is to empower students to become skilled professionals, career-ready leaders, and responsible community members.
The win at states was especially sweet for Thompson because he finished second in 2024 as a junior.
Last year, he and his closest competitor were so close that the difference between first and second place came down to something very minor.
“I dropped a wrench,” Thompson said. “But I’m okay with the outcome. The competition was good and challenging.”
Thompson told the Eagle Eye last spring that he planned to go back to the state competition this year and win it, which is exactly what he did.
At states this year, Thompson competed against other finalists from across the state by taking a one-hundred-question multiple-choice test on the mechanics of small engines and repairs, making precise parts measurements, diagnosing and testing electronics like batteries and switches, and testing a four-stroke and two-stroke motor.
“I was hoping that I wouldn’t do worse than second. When they called third place, and it was someone else, I was feeling good. But then when second was someone else, I was worried for a minute that I didn’t win anything, but when they called my name for first place, I jumped right up,” Thompson said.
The trip is paid for by the CTC, including his flight, hotel, and food allowances.
James Doyle, Thompson’s teacher at the GACTC, is looking forward to accompanying Alex to the National Skills competition in Atlanta, GA, at the end of June.
“Alex took the knowledge he has gained in his time at the CTC and applied it well in a high-stress environment,” Doyle said.
Thompson gives a lot of credit to Doyle for teaching him the skills he needed to win the competition.
“My teacher, James Doyle, has helped me learn a lot more than I thought I knew. He taught me on a professional level how to work on small engines,” Thompson said.
Thompson also gave a shout-out to one of his GACTC bussies, Chase Bradford from Bellwood.
“Chase helped me through a lot of it. He was my biggest mental support,” Thompson said.
TAHS teacher Jessica Ellenberger has worked with Thompson throughout his high school career.
“I am immensely proud of Alex’s accomplishments and perseverance,” Ellenberger said. “While he has faced the typical challenges and growing pains of any teenager, he has held onto his future goals and dreams by channeling his energy into an area that holds great promise for his future. His strong work ethic, great sense of humor, and natural ability are characteristics that will continue to serve Alex well as he navigates his future.”
Thompson can work on almost anything with a small engine, like lawnmowers, lawn tractors, chainsaws, log splitters, leaf blowers, and snowblowers.
He has been running his own repair shop part-time for the past several years, A&A Equipment Services in Tyrone.
After graduation, Thompson said he might go to work full time in a local small engine shop.
He has also started working on cars and would love to get into racing someday.
“I hope to put a car on a track soon. I would like to go to Grand Turismo Racing School in Long Island, New York, and see where that takes me,” Thompson said.
