Three Tyrone Area High School students recently received recognition for their accomplishments at the Greater Altoona Career and Technology Center in Altoona.

Two Tyrone students will be among 25 GACTC students who qualified for the Pennsylvania State SkillsUSA competition in Hershey on April 3-5.

Another Tyrone student recently competed at the state championships for the GACTC eSports team.

Tyrone senior Joshua Herbster and junior Alexander Thompson both won in their respective divisions at the SkillsUSA District 7 competition at the Blair County Convention Center in January. They will move on to the state competition in April.

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. SkillsUSA sponsors competitions in various trades in Pennsylvania and many other states nationwide.

Thompson received first place in the regional SkillsUSA power equipment technology competition.

“I’m proud of the award I won because it reminds me that what I’m able to do can benefit me and my future,” Thompson said.

Thompson is enrolled in the powersports and equipment technology program at the GACTC and has already turned his skill working on engines into a small business. He repairs small engines and works on utility and lawn tractors after school and on weekends.

After high school Thompson hopes to go into business full-time, running his engine repair shop.

Joshua Herbster was recognized in the SkillsUSA firefighting division and will also represent the GACTC at the state competition in April.

Herbster, a student in the emergency services program, dressed in full turnout gear in under a minute and was tested on tying knots and throwing ladders.

“I feel honored for winning the award. It means all my hard work has paid off with three years of experience in the fire service and the GACTC,” Herbster said.

After high school, Herbster plans to enroll in a fire academy and would ultimately like to be a professional firefighter in Colorado, Harrisburg, or New York City.

Tyrone junior Augustus “AJ” Betke is a member of the GACTC eSports Division 1 Valorant team. His team finished third in the state eSports championship tournament held at Juniata College on January 13.

Other members of the GACTC eSports team include Caden Kratzer, 10th grade, Bellwood-Antis, Jackson Whitaker, 12th grade, Altoona, Aaron Smith, 11th grade, Hollidaysburg, and Aiden Quirin, 11th grade, Altoona.

“I am happy that we won because we placed second last time so we went back and won,” Betke said.

Betke currently attends GACTC for computer programming, but unfortunately will have to change his program next year as the GACTC has not been able to properly staff the computer programming program.