Nine Thomas Edison High School of Technology students took first place awards in the 30th annual Maryland State Skills USA-VICA Championship.

The competitions showcase the best career and technical students as they competed for medals, prizes, scholarships, state recognition, and the chance to continue on to national and international competition.

Jessica Brunson, a senior in the Thomas Edison drafting program co-enrolled at Gaithersburg High School, served as president of the Maryland Association of Skills USA-VICA for the 2002-2003 school year and is eligible to be a voting delegate at this year’s Skills USA-VICA National Leadership and Skills Conference. She officiated at this year’s annual state conference and at the awards ceremony held March 29.

Forty-five Edison students were among about 600 students who competed statewide. All nine Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) first place winners were from Edison.

Edison students who won state championship prizes, their winning categories, and the MCPS programs in which they are co-enrolled are:

§ Latisa Tanner, Health Knowledge Bowl (Medical Careers, Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School)
§ Janae Bosby, Health Knowledge Bowl (Medical Careers, Montgomery Blair High School)
§ Thao Le, Health Knowledge Bowl (Medical Careers, John F. Kennedy High School)
§ Loan Lam, Health Knowledge Bowl (Medical Careers, Rockville High School)
§ Georgina Duker, Health Knowledge Bowl (Medical Careers, Springbrook High School)
§ Nyillan Fye, Basic Health Care Skills (Medical Careers, Springbrook High School)
§ Alana Winbush, Job Skill Demonstration (Biotechnology, Watkins Mill High School)
§ Stivaly Salmeron, Nail Care (Nail Technology, Northwest High School)
§ Ingrid Valle, Nail Care Model (Nail Technology, Albert Einstein High School)

Four other Edison students won second place state awards, and two won third place awards.