Durfee High School cosmetology student Maiah Torres has arrived in Atlanta, Georgia, to represent Durfee and Massachusetts at the SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference, according to a community announcement.

Torres earned the right to compete on the national stage after winning the Massachusetts SkillsUSA Gold Medal in Cosmetology and being recognized as the top cosmetology student in the state. At the national conference, Torres will face a two-day competition totaling 12 hours of hands-on and written assessments against student stylists from across the country.

Competitors must also complete a 100-question written exam covering professional cosmetology knowledge and industry standards.

Torres was recently honored with Durfee’s CTE Director’s Award during the school’s CTE Cords and Awards Ceremony. The award recognizes a student who demonstrates excellence in career and technical education, leadership and service.

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