BANGOR – Technical computer applications competitor Mark Calivas won a National Gold Medal in the SkillsUSA Championships in Kansas City, Mo., recently. He competed against more than 40 people from all corners of the United States.

It was the first time the state of Maine has won the gold in that competition. Calivas is a Penobscot Job Corps student.

Eleven Penobscot Job Corps students traveled to Kansas City to compete in SkillsUSA.

Job Corps had state finalists in quiz bowl, job skill demonstration, extemporaneous speaking, customer service, welding, culinary arts and technical computer applications categories.

For the first time in Job Corps history, the quiz bowl team and job skills demonstration competitors reached the finals.

The SkillsUSA Championships is the national-level competition for public high school and postsecondary college and technical students enrolled in trade, technical and skilled service profession instructional programs including allied health occupations. More than 4,000 people nationwide competed in more than 70 events.