Nearly 6,000 outstanding career and technical education students — all state contest winners — will compete hands-on in 98 different trade, technical, and leadership fields.

Students work against the clock and each other, proving their expertise in occupations like HVACR, electronics, computer-aided drafting, precision machining, medical assisting, and culinary arts.

Contests are run with the help of industry, trade associations, and labor organizations, and test competencies are set by industry.

Leadership contestants will demonstrate skills including extemporaneous speaking and conducting meetings by parliamentary procedure. The competitions will be open to the public and free of charge.