MEXICO — A Telstar High School senior took a gold medal in a Skills U.S.A. Career and Technical Education competition earlier this month in Bangor.

This is the first time a Region 9 School of Applied Technology fire science student has been so honored. This is only the second year the fire science program, taught by Jon Longley, has been offered at the Mexico vocational school.

Cody Dux won over 12 others in the fire science competition. Winning third place was another Region 9 fire science student, Samantha Cote, who is a junior at Dirigo High School.

Dux said he competed in several skills associated with fire science, including ropes and knots, ladders, and tool and gear carrying.

He said his dad, Jar Dux, a retired professional full-time firefighter from Missouri, is also a volunteer firefighter for the Bethel Fire Department.

“I love helping people,” Cody Dux said. “It gives me a chance to give back.”

Cody said his fellow fire science classmates pushed him to do well since the beginning of the Region 9 course.

He plans to enter the U.S. Marine Corp. after graduation, then become a professional firefighter and paramedic.

Other Region 9 students who placed during the Skills U.S.A. competition were Robbie Babb, Nikki Breau, Alex Snowman and Torry Barnett, who took bronze medals in the Quiz Bowl challenge. They are all students attending Region 9 from Dirigo High School.