SkillsUSA Members return from Spring Leadership Conference with Medals

Career and Technical Education students prepare for Nationals

Students from the Southern Westchester BOCES campus in Valhalla returned from the SkillsUSA Spring Leadership Conference adorned with medals after showcasing their readiness for their chosen career paths. Accompanied by six advisors, a group of 29 students made their way to the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse at the end of April to compete against peers from across the state.

"I am incredibly proud of our students. The majority were competing for the first time, and yet we won more medals than any school in our area. It was amazing to watch," said Howard Hamilton, SkillsUSA/HOSA Advisor.

The New York Association of SkillsUSA is the largest Career & Technical Education student organization of its kind in the world. It has more than 440,000 student and professional members.

Afternoon session SkillsUSA President Elizabeth Torres, a junior at New Rochelle, returned from the competition feeling proud of her fellow students. 

“I was a delegate, and I got to see the grounds where they competed. I watched the students in the culinary competition,” said Elizabeth. “It was very fun. I got to talk to a lot of people from around the state. I think we did really well. I had a lot of fun. I enjoyed it, and I’m excited to go next year, hopefully competing.”

The Cosmetology II students took first place in the Cosmetology Quiz Bowl, earning themselves a gold medal each. Juniors Vanessa Giangregorio and Maria Artoglou of Eastchester, and seniors Samantha Blaker and Samantha Gonzalez of New Rochelle and Robyn Perez of Woodlands now have the opportunity to compete at Nationals at the end of June in Atlanta.

 In the Commercial Baking competition, Jae Ah Lee, a senior at Edgemont, took home the Silver Medal, and in Digital Cinema, seniors Ryan Corrigan of Eastchester and Sam Burgos of Valhalla took home the Bronze Medal.