A student in a blue shirt and gray hat works on the wiring of an AC unit.

Ray-Pec School Districtโ€™s LEAD Center participated in hosting the district SkillsUSA HVAC competition on Friday, January 23rd, alongside students from Fort Osage. Competitors completed a series of hands-on testing stations aligned with industry HVAC standards, demonstrating skills in brazing, control wiring, furnace diagnostics, air conditioning diagnostics, compressor diagnostics, and superheat/subcooling.

Each student was evaluated by a panel of judges, with the top three overall scorers advancing to the state competition. Congratulations to LEAD Center seniors Elijah Queathem, who placed 1st, and Luke Banks, who placed 3rdโ€”both earning a spot at the state level.

The state competition winner will advance to represent their region at the national SkillsUSA competition, continuing a pathway where meaningful, career-driven choice happens every day at Ray-Pec.

A student in a blue sweatshirt stands at a work bench working on an air compressor.A student in a blue sweatshirt wears work glasses and examines a piece of coil in his hand.A student in a blue sweatshirt kneels in front of an AC unit observing the wiring.A student in a blue shirt stands and screws in some wires to the wall.