The Precision Machine Shop at Carbon Career and Technical Institute was humming.

Students from six schools were competing last week in CCTI’s second annual Precision Machining Competition.

CCTI Precision Machining Instructor Kevin Kuehner describes it as “a friendly competition” to help prepare students for the State Skills USA Competition.

During this contest, the students are required to make an object using a manual lathe and a manual milling machine.

The students hailed from Monroe Career & Technical Institute, Hazleton, Bethlehem, Schuylkill, Easton and CCTI.

Bill Marks from TPEI Engineering and Kyle Ahner from BTM Machine served as judges for the contest. In keeping with the friendly nature of the competition, all participants receive prizes that include gift cards and machining tools.

Students who win Skills USA at the state level are eligible to compete in the National Skills USA competition. Winners of the national competition have the opportunity to be invited to participate in the World Skills Competition.

Kuehner proudly noted that Derbe Stroupe, a 2018 CCTI graduate, won the national Skills USA competition in 2017 as a junior. Stroupe has since been invited to participate in the World Skills Competition to be held in Russia.