Nassau BOCES Barry Tech Animation and Digital Media Design Skills student Robert Stahl shows off his winning pin design.

A total of thirty-one students from Nassau BOCES high schools, Barry Tech, GC Tech, and for the first time, Long Island High School for the Arts all earned top honors at the New York State Regional SkillsUSA Conference held recently at Suffolk County Community College.

Seven students took first place, 10 placed second and 14 came in third place. Barry Tech Animation and Digital Media Design Skills student Robert Stahl’s pin design was awarded top honors. Many at the competition were wearing the award-winning pin.

The regional conference is part of a national series of events that SkillsUSA sponsors as part of its mission to provide our country with a competitive, skilled workforce. During the event, students participate in a series of timed events related to their courses of study at Barry Tech, GC Tech and Long Island High School for the Arts. They also take part in competitions that focus on leadership and professional development. Students who are successful at the regional level of competition advance to the State Conference in Syracuse, N.Y. Top achievers move on to the National Leadership and Skills Conference in Louisville, K.Y. in June.

SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry leaders working together to prepare high school and college students to become leaders in the business world. The program helps establish industry standards for job-skills training and instills a respect for community service in its participants. The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes SkillsUSA as a “successful model of an employer-driven youth development program.”

Following is the list of this year’s regional winners from Nassau BOCES Barry Tech (21 winners), Nassau BOCES GC Tech (4 winners), and Nassau BOCES Long Island High School for the Arts (6 winners), their program of study, SkillsUSA competition and home school district.

Nassau BOCES Career and Technical Education Programs
Area VI Regional SkillsUSA Winners

First place

Nicholas Gregory
Nassau BOCES Long Island High School for the Arts
Multimedia Journalism, TV Production Competition
Great Neck UFSD

George Evangelou
Nassau BOCES Long Island High School for the Arts
Multimedia Journalism, TV Production Competition
Bethpage UFSD

Sofia LaSpina
Nassau BOCES Barry Tech
Welding, Welding Competition
Bellmore-Merrick CHSD

Ava Pacicca
Nassau BOCES Barry Tech
Carpentry, Carpenter’s Assistant Competition
Syosset CSD

Imani Rodriguez
Nassau BOCES Barry Tech
Fashion, Job Interview Competition
Carle Place UFSD

Robert Stahl
Nassau BOCES Barry Tech
Animation and Digital Media Design Skills, Pin Design Competition
East Meadow UFSD

Sharon Wanglui
Nassau BOCES Barry Tech
Animation and Digital Media Design Skills, Advertising Design Competition
Bethpage UFSD

Second Place

Brian Basta
Nassau BOCES GC Tech
Police Science, Criminal Justice Competition
Levittown UFSD

Victoria Bonura
Nassau BOCES GC Tech
Medical Assisting, Job Demo Competition
Island Trees UFSD

Angel Henriquez
Nassau BOCES Barry Tech
Video Production and Film Making, T.V. Production Competition
Massapequa UFSD

Nicholas Larsen
Nassau BOCES GC Tech
Police Science, Job Demo Competition
Bellmore-Merrick CHSD

Sean Lasak
Nassau BOCES Barry Tech
Carpentry, Carpenter’s Assistant Competition
Plainview-Old Bethpage UFSD

Jonathan Ortega
Nassau BOCES Barry Tech
Animation and Digital Media Design Skills, Advertising Design Competition
Uniondale UFSD

JoAnna Salazar
Nassau BOCES Barry Tech
Cosmetology, Cosmetology Basic Competition
Hicksville UFSD

Gianna Smith
Nassau BOCES Barry Tech
Culinary Arts, Commercial Baking Competition
Bethpage UFSD

Mikayla Verdi
Nassau BOCES Barry Tech
Video Production and Film Making, T.V. Production Competition
East Meadow UFSD

Andrew Wells
Nassau BOCES Barry Tech
Animation and Digital Media Design Skills, Employee Application Process Competition
West Hempstead UFSD

Third Place

William Arnold
Nassau BOCES Barry Tech
Welding, Welding Basic Competition
Massapequa UFSD

Joshua Collins
Nassau BOCES GC Tech
Police Science, Criminal Justice Competition
Levittown UFSD

Robert Croce
Nassau BOCES Barry Tech
Welding, Welding Competition
East Rockaway UFSD

Shami Drew
Nassau BOCES Barry Tech
Auto Skills Employee Application Process Competition
Uniondale UFSD

Benjamin Feingold
Nassau BOCES Barry Tech
Aviation, Aviation Competition
Great Neck UFSD

Arianna Maniscalco
Nassau BOCES Long Island High School for the Arts
Multimedia Journalism, TV Production Competition
East Meadow UFSD

Magdalina Napon
Nassau BOCES Barry Tech
Nurse Assisting, Nursing Assistant Competition
Baldwin UFSD

Arielle Ormeno
Nassau BOCES Long Island High School for the Arts
Multimedia Journalism, TV Production Competition
Glen Cove City SD

Yasmine Porcaro
Nassau BOCES Barry Tech
Nurse Assisting, Prepared Speech Competition
North Shore CSD

Hillary Ramirez
Nassau BOCES Barry Tech
Veterinary Science, Small Animal Basic Competition
East Meadow UFSD

Loughlin Reid-Cleary
Nassau BOCES Long Island High School for the Arts
Audio Production, Audio Production Competition
Lynbrook UFSD

Harry Saxton
Nassau BOCES Barry Tech
Auto Skills, Auto Service Basic Competition
Wantagh UFSD

Justin Verdi
Nassau BOCES Barry Tech
Carpentry, Carpentry Competition
Bethpage UFSD

Scott Wong
Nassau BOCES Long Island High School for the Arts
Audio Production, Audio Production Competition
Syosset CSD