High school students from across Central Alberta put their skills to the test on Thursday at Red Deer College.

Students went head-to-head at the 2017 Regional Skills Competition, where the best of the best tried proving they were number one.

Some of the events included welding, electrical and carpentry.

Grade 11 student Curtis Holden represented Lacombe Composite High School in carpentry something he said he sees in his future.

“I'm thinking more on the path of forestry, however if I’m doing foresty and engineering and stuff like that, this will definitely help me out.”

Welding instructor at the college Kyle Johnson said the competition could go a long way in determining their future.

“For them it gives them a real sense of what education after high school will look like and what the workforce might look like, but also skills that will move forward in apprenticeships.”

Winners from each category move on to provincials in Edmonton on May 10 and 11.