Oxford High School junior Amanda Heuser, who’s also enrolled in the cosmetology program at Oakland Schools Technical Campus- Northeast (OSTC-NE) in Pontiac, recently won sixth place in Esthetics-Cosmetology at the SkillsUSA regional competition.

The win qualified Heuser to compete at the SkillsUSA state conference last weekend.

Although Heuser did not receive any prizes at the state competition, she called it a “great learning experience” and looks forward to competing again next year.

At each competition, Heuser was challenged to show off her skills by creating several different makeup looks.

Heuser competed in the esthetics competition, which tests students’ skills in applying make-up. Competitors must apply daytime/evening make-up looks to a model and display their creativity through face paint during the fantasy make-up competition, as well as take a written exam.

Heuser, who hopes to become a cosmetologist someday, said she believes her experiences through the OSTC program and during the competition will benefit her as she enters the field.

To achieve her dream, Heuser will need to complete 1,500 hours of the OSTC-NE program before she can take a state cosmetology board exam to earn her cosmetologist license.

“I’ve always been interested in makeup and that’s why I originally went into the OSTC program but we learn everything there, so I’ve learned to love styling hair too,” Heuser added.

SkillsUSA is a national nonprofit organization which serves high school, middle school and college students who are preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations by offering local, state and national opportunities for students to learn and practice personal, workplace and technical skills.

Each April, around 1,500 student members from schools across Michigan participate in the state competition, according to the SkillsUSA website.