Congratulations to the budding entrepreneurs from Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School, three of whom won gold medals last month at the annual SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Kansas City.
The local students competed against other vocational school teams from across the country to see which had the best plan to start and run a business. The Whittier team, which included Hector Andujar, of Lawrence, and Sharoline Galva and Erin Cobb, both of Haverhill, took the national championship. The medals mean the students are now in line for scholarships to colleges or other higher-learning institutions.
Four other students, competing in the Health Knowledge Bowl, finished third, good enough for bronze medals. They were Brittany Pomales, Heather Conley, Cassandra Gauron and Nancy Robbins, all of Haverhill.
Perhaps the most significant compliment came from a judge who said the Whittier students were more professional than those he has seen in the working world.
That, even more than a medal, is evidence that this is a group with stellar career prospects, and who will be among the leaders of the future in building better communities.
