The competition was fun and fierce at the annual Skills Regionals at Okanagan College (OC) on Friday, Feb. 28 as high school students showed off their work in a variety of trades.

More than 200 students demonstrated teamwork, individual skills, clock management, and more as they competed in trades including welding, carpentry, and the annual build of the spaghetti bridge.

"I think it helps us with learning valuable parts of life like helping each other out and teamwork and key parts of patience," said James, a Grade 7 student from K.L.O. Middle School who was participating in the spaghetti bridge build. "You have to try and have an idea that everyone will like, but when once you come up with an idea that everyone likes and you all do it together as a team, it can be really cool in the end."

Students from around the entire Okanagan take part in these programs and compete in the event. In the carpentry contest, the students had two and a half hours to build a stool. 

"[I] learned a lot today," said Tyler, a Grade 12 student from Rutland Secondary School, who added it was a big difference to be using hand tools for the competition instead of power tools. "It's very stressful when you're on the clock."

The winners of the competition will go on to compete at the Skills Provincials in Abbotsford.