GOSHEN – Students from the SkillsUSA Orange-Ulster BOCES chapter captured top honors at the SkillsUSA New York State Conference in Syracuse, with six gold medal winners now advancing to compete June 1-5 at the national level in Atlanta.
OUB students won first place in Welding Fabrication, Nail Care, Carpentry, and Early Childhood Education, bringing home more gold medals than any year in recent memory.
“It’s pretty awesome,” said Laura Brissing, a school counselor at OUB and the SkillsUSA advisor. “We’re like proud parents.”
In all, 46 OUB students traveled to Syracuse, joining competitors from more than 100 schools across New York.
“Our SkillsUSA competitors have spent months building their skills within our labs and classrooms, and what they showed in Syracuse was a direct reflection of that work,” said Sara Puccio, OUB’s director of career and technical education. “They competed the way they show up in their programs every day – with focus and pride in their craft – and they made Orange-Ulster BOCES incredibly proud. We have every confidence they will bring that same commitment to the national stage.”
The students and several advisors will fly to Atlanta for the week-long championships.
OUB’s gold medalists and their home school districts are:
Welding Fabrication (Team Contest)
- Cameron Brown, Monroe-Woodbury Central School District
- Patrick Frawley, Minisink Valley Central School District
- Brady Witkowski, Minisink Valley Central School District
Nail Care
- Dayanara Garcia, Enlarged City School District of Middletown
Carpentry
- Craig Brown, Washingtonville Central School District
Early Childhood Education
- Savannah Collins, Enlarged City School District of Middletown
Two OUB students also won silver medals. Grace Coleman of Pine Bush Central School District earned silver in Medical Assisting, while Kayla Lee of Pine Bush won silver in Medical Terminology.
The SkillsUSA Championships is the culmination of a yearlong process that begins in local SkillsUSA chapters. Local winners advance to regional competitions, and regional winners move on to the state contests. State gold medalists then compete nationally at the SkillsUSA Championships each June.
Along with gold, silver, and bronze medals, championship competitors can earn scholarships, tools, and, in some cases, job offers.
Comments