From staff reports:

In April, Decatur High School senior Gordon Sabin won the SkillsUSA Washington State Automotive Service Competition in Renton for all high school technology students in the state.

He is now in Kansas City, Mo., with his auto technology teacher, Luke Thompson, at the National SkillsUSA Leadership Conference and Skills Competition.

He is representing Washington state, competing with a student from each of the 50 states, in a 13-part hands-on automotive practical test and a written knowledge exam.

On June 25, Sabin won second place in a contest called The Amazing Techno Race, winning a DeWalt lithium ion cordless drill. His teacher, Mr. Thompson, came in third place, winning a $100 gift certificate. They had a series of timed skills to perform at the tech expo, one of which was mounting a tire, etc. The fastest total times were the winners.

Learn more at www.skillsusa.org. To watch the opening ceremonies live online, starting at 5 p.m. today, visit www.ustream.tv/recorded/22981053.