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Two high-speed sports cars will soon be driving into Bellevue High School after two local students took first place at the Automotive Skills USA regional contest last week.

Bellevue High School sophomore Luke Walker and Newport High School sophomore Ian Douglas placed first in the service and maintenance categories, respectively, of the regional competition. Altogether, eight students from the district’s Automotive Technology program.

The program is part of the district’s Career and Technical Education offerings that aim to help students explore career opportunieis and learn how core subjects like science, math, reading and writing are used in the workforce. It is certified by National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation and Automotive Youth Educational Systems.

Douglas, Walker and their classmates took three written tests and performed at six hands-on practical stations during the competition.

The competing Bellevue students all placed in the top nine in their categories.

Walker and Douglas will continue on to the state competition in early April and may be joined by some of their peers, as the top three students automatically qualify for the state competition.

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