CHAMBERSBURG – The Franklin County Career and Technology Center (CareerTech) is celebrating major achievements this week at the Pennsylvania SkillsUSA State Championships in Hershey, highlighting both student excellence and vital community support.
CareerTech’s State Competitor bus arrived Wednesday carrying excited students ready to demonstrate their technical talents across multiple competitions. Among the state competitors, Landscaping and Horticulture student Braden Lehman earned top honors, receiving a $1,000 Rex Wright Scholarship from the Pennsylvania Youth Development Foundation of SkillsUSA and being named the SkillsUSA Pennsylvania Student of the Year.
Lehman received the statewide recognition based on his achievements, letters of recommendation, and essay submission. During the opening ceremony, officials described him as “an outstanding representative of his school, community and self,” recognizing his leadership and commitment to excellence. A 2025 SkillsUSA national medalist, Lehman is also a member of the National Honor Society, an FFA medalist, and an active community volunteer.
CareerTech also celebrated one of its strongest community partners, Friese Bus Transportation, which was named the 2026 SkillsUSA Pennsylvania Partner of the Year.
The family-owned business, founded in 1957 and now operated by its third generation, has been supporting SkillsUSA Pennsylvania since 1988 by transporting competitors to events across the state. What began with a few buses and drivers has grown into a 16-bus, 17-driver operation supporting the annual event. Friese Bus has also expanded its fleet to more than 70 buses and 50 vans, while maintaining deep ties to local career and technical education—several family members are Franklin County CTC graduates and SkillsUSA alumni.
Three generations of the Friese family attended the Hershey ceremony to accept the award: Bob and Sharon Friese; Trevor Friese, current owner, with sons Dalton and Colton; and Ryan and Lisa Woods, leaders of the company’s transportation team.
The Friese family is also known for its involvement in motor sports through East Coast Legend Series LLC, where three generations share a passion for racing.
CareerTech officials expressed pride in both the achievements of their students and the dedication of community partners who continue to invest in the next generation of skilled professionals.
