FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- In high school education, technical career classes like welding and construction are growing. Thursday, more than 1,000 students got a chance to show off what they're learning at the Career Skills Challenge.
The competition is intense as these robots face off. Each is designed and controlled by a team of high school students in the valley.
"I like these competitions a lot because we get to compete against other schools and show off with ranking and everything," Central East sophomore Chase Williamson said.
Williamson's robotics team had some fun competing against other schools at the annual Career Skills Challenge at Fresno City College. The event has been running for 40 years now.
"We've continued it and grown it over time, so that students get a chance to come and see how they match up against kids from other schools in a friendly competition and get a chance to see what other students know as well," FCOE Career Tech Ed administrator Valerie Vuicich said.
The career technical field has grown, with students competing in 41 categories this year.
Elsewhere on campus, the gloves were off as young chefs tested their culinary skills in a "Chopped" style competition, where they were forced to use their imaginations to make a unique dish.
Hard hats and hammering filled a nearby construction site. Different high schools put together a project in no time.
Students say they're learning valuable lessons.
"I've learned that definitely what I want to do as a profession, being a software engineer and such," Williamson said. "It teaches you how to basically be an engineer of everything and its really informative."
Another plus is how to work as a team.
In total, more than 1,300 students from the Valley competed at the event.
Organizers hopes the Career Skills Challenge will help these young students pursue their passions and one day succeed in their careers.