Megan Martin, 18, Drumright, led a team of young motorcycle technicians to sweep the gold, silver and bronze medals at the recent state-wide CareerTech Skills USA meet in Tulsa. Martin, the only female on the team, claimed the First Place Gold Medal and is now preparing for a similar attempt at the national competition in June at Kansas City , Missouri , sponsored by the national Skills USA student organization.

Martin is the fourth member of her family to receive an education at Central Technology Center 's Drumright campus and the second member of her family to compete in a national skills contest. Megan's mother, father and brother all participated in career instruction programs at the tech center and her mother competed in the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) national skills competition after completing studies as a Practical Nursing student. Martin's father trained in the center's Automotive Technology Program and her brother recently completed studies in both Telecommunications and Cyber Security.

After competing in the Kansas City meet in June, Martin is planning to enroll at the University of Central Oklahoma where she will be seeking a degree in Forensic Science and Crime Scene Investigation. “That is a career I've wanted ever since I was a little girl,” says Martin. “I am a person who has to have constant change in my life. I can't stand to be doing the same thing for a long period of time. That is a job that is always changing and it's unique.”

The Drumright teen first developed her keen interest in motorcycles at an early age. She was racing four-wheeled vehicles across the state in competition sponsored by the Oklahoma Cross Country Racing Association at the age of 14 and did very well until an untimely two-vehicle crash on an 8 mile course cut her racing career short. Megan finished that race in third place but after surgery to a knee injured in the crash, Megan was unable to return to the racing circuit right away. Now, Megan says she wants to try and return to competitive racing after she finishes her college education.

In the meantime, her interest in motorcycles and her skills as a technician will serve as a source of security as well as leisure enjoyment if the envisioned career in forensics doesn't work out. “I'll always have this training to fall back on. This is something that will always be mine and something I can do very well.”

In the meantime, Megan Martin is studying hard and trying to discipline herself to remain calm as she prepares for the opportunity of lifetime, the opportunity to compete for the Gold Medal at the National Skills USA competition in Kansas City this summer. Good luck, Megan!