At a glance
More than 900 high school students from Region I Board of Cooperative Education and Services (BOCES) districts, encompassing Western New York and the Southern Tier, competed in the 27th annual SkillsUSA Region I Leadership Conference and Skills Olympics.
More than 900 high school students from Region I Board of Cooperative Education and Services (BOCES) districts, encompassing Western New York and the Southern Tier, competed in the 27th annual SkillsUSA Region I Leadership Conference and Skills Olympics March 8 at Alfred State.
The winners of this regional competition will advance to the next level in Syracuse in April, where all six regions in New York State will meet to attempt to qualify for the national competition in Kansas City, MO, in June. A postsecondary SkillsUSA state competition will also take place on the Wellsville campus on Saturday, March 26.
Skills tests ranged from criminal justice to TV/video production to precision machining. Alfred State faculty, staff, and students were heavily involved in the design, implementation, and judging of many of the contests. Many of the high school students were exposed to a college campus for the first time.
Contestants from the following schools attended:
Genesee Valley (Batavia); Career and Technical Education Center at Belmont; Lake Shore/ Carrier Educational Center (Angola); Charles G May Career-Tech Center (Mt. Morris); Greater Southern Tier (GST) BOCES, Coopers Campus (Painted Post); Edison Tech and Occupational High School (Rochester); Eastern Monroe Career Center (EMCC) (Fairport); Ellicottville CTE Center; Finger Lakes Technical and Career Center (Stanley); GST BOCES Pauline Bush Campus (Elmira); Harkness Career and Technical Center (Cheektowaga); Hewes Educational Center (Ashville); Kenton Career and Technical Education Center (Tonawanda); LoGuidice Center (Fredonia); Niagara (Sanborn); Olean CTE Center; Orleans Career and Technical Education Center (Medina); WD Ormsby Educational Center (East Aurora); Potter Career and Technical Center (West Seneca); Wayne Technical and Career Center (Williamson); WEMOCO Career and Technical Education Center (Spencerport); and GST BOCES, Wildwood Campus (Hornell).
An awards ceremony honored the following winners:
Action Skills
- Kelli-Lynn Wilkesmore, Niagara, 1st
- Andrea Contestabile, EMCC, 2nd
- Lindsey Gnage, WEMOCO, 3rd
Advertising Design
- Luis Placeres, Edison Tech, 1st
- Emily Kokot, GST Wildwood, 2nd
- Wyatt Ames, GST Wildwood, 3rd
Animal Careers
- Madeline Scheer, W.D. Ormsby, 1st
- Joelle Randall-McCann, W.D. Ormsby, 2nd
- Kari Salazar, Finger Lakes Tech, 3rd
Auto Body Helper
- Lucas Russo, WEMOCO, 1st
- Jacob Wilson, Wayne Tech, 2nd
- Deric Cyphert, Niagara, 3rd
Auto Service Basic
- Dylan Binnert, GVB Batavia, 1st
- Kyle Elliott, GVB Batavia, 2nd
- Ryan Doepp, Orleans, 3rd
Auto Technology
- Elvir Haskovic, WEMOCO, 1st
- James Piva, Niagara, 2nd
- Dylan Barrett, EMCC, 3rd
Automated Manufacturing Technology
- Niagara, 1st
- Niagara, 2nd
- W.D. Ormsby, 3rd
Carpenter's Assistant
- Roman Sagan, WEMOCO, 1st
- Jose Santiago, Niagara, 2nd
- Christopher Maki, GST Bush, 3rd
Carpentry
- Alexander Ackley, Niagara, 1st
- Parker Cady, GST Wildwood, 2nd
- Aaron VanSkiver, GST Wildwood, 3rd
Collision Repair
- David Gorgson, Kenton, 1st
- Isaac Lippincott, GST Wildwood, 2nd
- Derek Mann, W.D. Ormsby, 3rd
Commercial Baking
- Shaylee Oney, GST Wildwood, 1st
- Bailey Mackenzie, Niagara, 2nd
- Erika Holtz, W.D. Ormsby, 3rd
Computer Maintenance
- Kevin Lapham, GST Wildwood, 1st
- Shane Davis, GST Wildwood, 2nd
- David Sieczkarski, GST Wildwood, 3rd
Conservation
- Calob Franklin, Hewes, 1st
- Michael Wardzinski, Niagara, 2nd
- Hunter Arbogast, Wayne Tech, 3rd
Cosmetology Jr.
- Anh Phuona Mai, EMCC, 1st
- Chelsea Chamberlain, Belmont, 2nd
- Sarah Kurbs, Orleans, 3rd
Cosmetology Sr.
- Mandy Forenz, GST Wildwood, 1st
- Emily Jacus, Niagara, 2nd
- Allexyss Mitstifer, GST Bush, 3rd
CPR/First Aid
- Sarah Piorski, W.D. Ormsby, 1st
- Jay Riesenberger, EMCC, 2nd
- Emily Wysocarski, EMCC, 3rd
Criminal Justice
- Nick Kozlowski, Olean, 1st
- Jacob Cornell, GST Coopers, 2nd
- Anthony Ozzella, Olean, 3rd
Crime Scene Investigation (Three-Person Teams)
- Olean, 1st
- C.G. May, 2nd
- Belmont, 3rd
Culinary Arts
- Kody Derhak, EMCC, 1st
- Abigayle Brietzke, C.G. May, 2nd
- Owen Jones, Harkness, 3rd
Custom Painting & Graphics
- Noah Schleich, C.G. May, 1st
- Thomas Lee, Hewes, 2nd
- Caroline Schall, W.D. Ormsby, 3rd
Diesel Mechanics
- Alexander Fischer, Niagara, 1st
- Kyle Sharkey, Niagara, 2nd
- Maxwell Morrell, Niagara, 3rd
Early Childhood
- Wynter Dumont, Orleans, 1st
- Emma Sens, EMCC, 2nd
- Selah Lowery, Niagara, 3rd
Electrical Construction & Wiring
- Peter Roloson, Finger Lakes Tech, 1st
- Cullin Wanbsganss, Potter, 2nd
- Curtis Miller, Harkness, 3rd
Electronics Technology
- Brendan Schyve, Orleans, 1st
Employment Application
- Jordan Coon, EMCC, 1st
- Katelynn Kusmierz, Niagara, 2nd
- James Williams, WEMOCO, 3rd
Extemporaneous Speaking
- Amelia O’Shell, GST Bush, 1st
- Kayla Smith, Orleans; and Julianna Lisak, EMCC, 2nd
- Kayla Licht, Orleans, 3rd
Food Prep Assistant
- Hailey Weaver, GST Wildwood, 1st
- Ryan McIntosh, EMCC, 2nd
- Tom Shaw, C.G. May, 3rd
Health Knowledge Bowl (Four-Person Teams)
- Orleans, 1st
- Belmont, 2nd
- Niagara, 3rd
Job Demo A
- Christa Vanderkamp, EMCC, 1st
- Joseph Gavin, GST Wildwood, 2nd
- Laicey Axtell, GST Coopers, 3rd
Job Demo Open
- Dawson Gilbert, Wayne Tech, 1st
- Jacob Forsyth, GST Coopers, 2nd
- Michaela Conklin, GST Bush, 3rd
Job Interview
- Amanda Klamut, Niagara, 1st
- Ally Mack, Finger Lakes Tech, 2nd
- Julia Wood, WEMOCO, 3rd
Masonry
- Dylan Burtch, Orleans, 1st
- Corkey Swails, Edison, 2nd
- Jesse Wilcox, Orleans, 3rd
Nail Technician
- Makena Carpenter, Orleans, 1st
- Braillen Hare, Orleans, 2nd
- Olya Cyran, W.D. Ormsby, 3rd
Photography
- Keira Fletcher, Niagara, 1st
- Sophia Cox, EMCC, 2nd
- Macayla Howell, GST Wildwood, 3rd
Power Equipment Technology
- Cory Ormsby, Niagara, 1st
- Jacob Booth, GST Wildwood, 2nd
- Jessie Penpa, Wayne Tech, 3rd
Precision Heavy Equipment
- Justin Raly, Wayne Tech, 1st
- Cameron Bobout, GST Wildwood, 2nd
- Hunter Tingley, GST Wildwood, 3rd
Precision Machining
- Josh Dimora, Wayne Tech, 1st
- Cody Westmorland, Niagara, 2nd
- Ryan George, GVB Batavia, 3rd
Prepared Speech
- Andrea Hess, Ellicottville, 1st
- William Pelorella, Orleans, 2nd
- Hannah Howe, Potter, 3rd
Quiz Bowl (Five-Person Teams)
- EMCC, 1st
- WEMOCO, 2nd
- GVB Batavia, 3rd
Related Technical Math
- Mike Beach, GST Bush, 1st
- Erik Regan, Harkness, 2nd
- Matthew Watts, Orleans, 3rd
Restaurant Services
- Sarah White, Niagara, 1st
- Briana Thompson, LoGuidice, 2nd
- Morgan Dennis, GST Wildwood, 3rd
Small Engines
- Emmanuel Franco, Wayne Tech, 1st
- Codey Derick, GST Wildwood, 2nd
- Logan Drake, GST Wildwood, 3rd
Technical Drafting
- Devon Schiefer, W.D. Ormsby, 1st
- Kevin Miller, Finger Lakes Tech, 2nd
- Conner Heiser, Niagara, 3rd
T-Shirt Design
- Jose Rivera, Edison, 1st
- Aryien Carey, GST Coopers, 2nd
- Jack White, GST Coopers, 3rd
TV/Video Production
- GST Wildwood, 1st
- GST Bush, 2nd
- WEMOCO, 3rd
Welding
- Kyle Russo, Niagara, 1st
- Colton Duyssen, GVB Batavia, 2nd
- Hunter Allen, GST Wildwood, 3rd