At a glance
Skills tests ranged from criminal justice to TV/video production to public speaking. 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.
More than 950 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 29th annual SkillsUSA Region I Leadership Conference and Skills Olympics March 6 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 Louisville, KY, in June. A postsecondary SkillsUSA state competition will also take place on the Wellsville campus on Saturday, March 24.
Skills tests ranged from criminal justice to TV/video production to public speaking. 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:
Burgard Vocational High School (Buffalo); 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
- Kayla DeJesus, WEMOCO, 1st
- Hannah Lucas, EMCC, 2nd
- Maggie Jones, LoGuidice, 3rd
Advertising Design
- Madison Garrigues, GST Wildwood, 1st
- Samantha Moore, Niagara, 2nd
- Dylan Ector, GST Bush, 3rd
Animal Careers
- Emily Pfalzer, Kenton, 1st
- Arthur Ingram, Wayne, 2nd
- Karlie Swanson, Hewes, 3rd
Auto Body Helper
- Simon VanHoover, Wayne, and Aaron Knight, GST Wildwood, tied for 1st
- Blake Calaman, GST Coopers, 2nd
Auto Service
- Jacob Gittans, GST Coopers, 1st
- Luxman Sundas, Edison, 2nd
- Lyle Boundy, GV Batavia, 3rd
Auto Technology
- Tyler White, WEMOCO, 1st
- Bradley Powers, GST Wildwood, 2nd
- Raymond Gorski, Orleans, 3rd
Carpenter's Assistant
- Ethan Huette, GST Wildwood, 1st
- Patrick Bohrer, GST Bush, 2nd
- Kirt Menzi, GST Bush, 3rd
Carpentry
- Owen Haines, Harkness, 1st
- Evan Wood, GST Wildwood, 2nd
- Ryan Schleef, Harkness, 3rd
Collision Repair
- Darren Andrzejewski, WD Ormsby, 1st
- Max Northern, Harkness, 2nd
- Logan Windnagle, GST Coopers, 3rd
Commercial Baking
- Alora Tulip, Niagara, 1st
- Destiny Brumfield, WEMOCO, 2nd
- Megan Kelly, Harkness, 3rd
Computer Maintenance
- Hunter Button, GST Wildwood, 1st
- Kolton Hawkins, GST Wildwood, 2nd
- Nathaniel Carlin, GST Coopers, 3rd
Cosmetology Jr.
- Hannah Cassoni, Ellicottville, 1st
- Elizabeth Kowalski, GV Batavia, 2nd
- Lindsy Cali, EMCC, 3rd
Cosmetology Sr.
- Ghadeer Aziz, EMCC, 1st
- Grace Palazzo, EMCC, 2nd
- Shianna Brisson, WEMOCO, 3rd
CPR/First Aid
- Ryan Povio, EMCC, 1st
- Edwin Munoz, EMCC, 2nd
- Sarah Priester, Hewes, 3rd
Criminal Justice
- Tommy Hall, Olean, 1st
- Chandler Heary, Orleans, 2nd
- Nicholas Woodward, Niagara, 3rd
Crime Scene Investigation (Three-Person Teams)
- Niagara, 1st
- CG May, 2nd
- WD Ormsby, 3rd
Culinary Arts
- Lillian Wakelam, Niagara, 1st
- Lauren Cybul, EMCC, 2nd
- Aurora Warchocki, WD Ormsby, 3rd
Custom Painting
- Michelle Pellett, GST Wildwood, 1st
- Julia Burgard, WD Ormsby, 2nd
- Scott Bollin-Shugarts, GV Batavia, 3rd
Diesel Mechanics
- Trevor Hulse, GST Wildwood, 1st
- Dominic Gerardi, WD Ormsby, 2nd
- Cheyanna Gentry, Niagara, 3rd
Early Childhood
- Katherine Mitchell, Ellicottville, and Skyler Christopher, Orleans, tied for 1st
- Raelyn Clark, Ellicottville, 2nd
Electrical Construction & Wiring
- Brandon Meek, Harkness, 1st
- Gavin Bathgate, EMCC, 2nd
- Zack Maier, WEMOCO, 3rd
Electronics Technology
- Benjamin Bowman, GV Batavia, 1st
- Simon Mazur, Harkness, 2nd
- Steven Lyness, GV Batavia, 3rd
Employment Application
- Emalee Yacono, EMCC, 1st
- Latavia Ward, Niagara, 2nd
- Trinity Grist, GST Coopers, 3rd
Esthetics
- Alexis Stratton, Orleans, 1st
- Haley Conte, GV Batavia, 2nd
- Skyler Cady, GST Wildwood, 3rd
Extemporaneous Speech
- Veronica Orton, Orleans, 1st
- Morgan Fitch, EMCC, 2nd
- Hunter McLean, WEMOCO, 3rd
Food Prep Assistant
- Chris Hoadley, EMCC, 1st
- Destiny Counterman, GST Coopers, 2nd
- Leah Clause, Niagara, 3rd
Health Knowledge Bowl (Four-Person Teams)
- Orleans, 1st
- Potter, 2nd
- Niagara, 3rd
Job Demo A
- Logan Blazejewski, Niagara, 1st
- Taylor Fawley, Potter, 2nd
- Abigail Smith, Hewes, 3rd
Job Demo Open
- Danielle Kozma, Orleans, 1st
- Skylar Hamlin, WEMOCO, 2nd
- Lauren Quagliana, LoGuidice, 3rd
Job Interview
- Mercedez Roy, Finger Lakes, 1st
- Sophia Barone, EMCC, 2nd
- RayLynn Chraston, Orleans, 3rd
Masonry
- Garrett Delves, EMCC, 1st
- Zachary Waters, Orleans, 2nd
- Katarina Minichello, GST Bush, 3rd
Nail Technician
- Karrigan Rotella, Niagara, and Jordan Tweed, Model, 1st
- Kevin Colon, EMCC, and Lindsay Hess, Model, 2nd
- Bailey Spence, WD Ormsby, and Rachel Greene, Model, 3rd
Photography
- Courtney Brisky, Olean, 1st
- Alexandra Whittall, GST Wildwood, 2nd
- Faith Chalmers, EMCC, 3rd
Power Equipment
- Austin Zwelling, Niagara, 1st
- Samuel Kellogg, Ellicottville, 2nd
- Jacob Glosser, GST Coopers, 3rd
Precision Heavy Equipment
- Cooper Fournier, Niagara, 1st
- Matt Smith, GST Wildwood, 2nd
- Josh Lein, WEMOCO, 3rd
Prepared Speech
- Jazmine Taft, GST Coopers, 1st
- Catherine Fleischhut, Orleans, 2nd
- Duncan Metlak, Niagara, 3rd
Quiz Bowl (Five-Person Teams)
- GST Wildwood, 1st
- EMCC, 2nd
- WEMOCO, 3rd
Related Technical Math
- Ryan Neuner, Harkness, 1st
- Zachary Mantisi, Finger Lakes, 2nd
- Claudia Basabakwinshi, GST Coopers, 3rd
Restaurant Services
- Reanna Hewitt, Niagara, 1st
- Mackenzie Toponak, Niagara, 2nd
- Paige Bernhardt, Hewes, 3rd
Small Engines
- Robert Wilcox, Niagara, 1st
- Adam Wagner, Niagara, 2nd
- Cameron Chardeen, Wayne, 3rd
Technical Drafting
- Nick Ball, WD Ormsby, 1st
- Leon Thompson II, Orleans, 2nd
- Johnathan Jones, Wayne, 3rd
T-Shirt Design
- Collin Hanrahan, GST Coopers, 1st
- Phoenix Knapp, GST Coopers, 2nd
- Sierra Mitchell, GST Wildwood, 3rd
TV/Video Production
- Sage Wray and Joseph Hartigan, GST Bush, 1st
- Troy Colvin-Wix and Dennis Pierce, GST Wildwood, 2nd
- Eva Bobek and Jenna Harper, Harkness, 3rd
Welding
- Adam Moroz, EMCC, 1st
- Samuel Lammes, WEMOCO, 2nd
- Zachery Thurston, GST Wildwood, 3rd