Sanel Smajlovic, a 2008 graduate of South Technical High School, placed third in the electronics technology field at the recent national SkillsUSA Championships in Kansas City.

He competed against 33 other students to win the third-place award.

SkillsUSA is a national organization that serves more than 300,000 high-school and college students and professional members who are enrolled in training programs in technical, skilled and service occupations.

The SkillsUSA Championships is the organization’s nationwide competition for students who have won first place awards in district and state competitions.

Matt Rola, Smajlovic’s instructor at South Tech, helped him prepare for the national event. He will attend Missouri University of Science and Technology in the fall.