AUGUSTA — Capital Area Technical Center has announced its March students of the month, according to a news release from the center.

Hayley McGrath Submitted photo

Hayley McGrath is a junior from Farmingdale. She attends Hall-Dale High School and is enrolled in the firefighting program at the enter. She has enjoyed the hands-on aspects of the class and working with the other students. She has learned how to best use ladders, tie many different types of knots and forcibly gain door entry, which could be necessary in an emergency situation.

McGrath recently competed in the State SkillsUSA competition in Bangor and said she thought the best part was meeting other firefighting students from around the state. They all quickly bonded over their interest in firefighting and have remained in touch. She would recommend the firefighting program to students who are willing to work, like an adrenaline rush and strive to be in good physical condition.

Her instructor, Francis Johnson, called her “an outstanding student in my class. She definitely brings a cheerful smile and an attitude to succeed. She is very competitive and has proved throughout the year as being a match for her classmates. I believe she will be successful in her goal of being a firefighter/EMT.”

Next year, McGrath plans to attend the emergency medical technician program at the center.

Alyssa Parker and pup Mabel. Submitted photo

Alyssa Parker is a senior from Winthrop. She attends Winthrop High School and is enrolled for the second year in the graphic design and printing program at at the enter. Her favorite part of the program has been doing jobs for others to practice her skills. She has created a banner for the firefighting program and made T-shirts for students in the building construction program.

Parker recently won the SkillsUSA local competition in State T-shirt Design and competed at the SkillsUSA State level competition in Bangor.

Her instructor, Jaime Clark, called her “a bright light in this class who is always happy, respectful, incredibly smart, and works hard both inside and outside of the classroom. She is an amazing artist who has so much potential. She has blossomed into a confident designer that is up for any challenge that I put in front of her. I look forward to seeing where this young lady takes her skills. I couldn’t be more proud of her and what she has accomplished in this classroom for the last two years.”

In the fall, McGrath plans to attend Warren Wilson College and study ecological forestry and art.