Fifteen students from Nassau BOCES’ career and technical education high schools earned top honors at the New York State SkillsUSA Conference this year, with five of those winners earning a place at the National Leadership Conference in Atlanta, GA. The competition is part of a national series of events that SkillsUSA sponsors in fulfillment of its mission to provide our country with a competitive, skilled workforce.

Taking first place for Nassau BOCES Barry Tech career and technical education high school were: Christian Salguero Pancan from the Baldwin UFSD, for Auto Refinishing Technician; Brandon Nanoo from the Plainview-Old Bethpage CSD, for Electric Construction Wiring; Dominick Fresco from the Rockville Centre UFSD, for Computer Game Skills; Trendall Storey from the Valley Stream CHSD, for Interactive Application and Video Gaming; and Harry Saxton from the Wantagh UFSD, for Auto Vehicle Maintenance Basics.

Taking first place for Nassau BOCES Long Island High School for the Arts (LIHSA) were: Nicholas Gregory of the Great Neck UFSD, for TV Production; Jude Bertino of the Hicksville UFSD, for Audio Production; Aeres Moran of the Levittown UFSD, for TV Production; and Jeremiah Rodriguez of the Westbury UFSD, for Audio Production.

Taking second place for Nassau BOCES Barry Tech were: Gianna Smith from the Bethpage UFSD, for Cake Decorating; Hyunjun Chang from the Great Neck UFSD, for Criminal Justice; and Carley Schwind from the Hicksville UFSD, for Culinary Arts. Taking second place for LIHSA were Madison Villalobos from the Massapequa UFSD and Thomas Eisenberg from the Levittown UFSD, both for Animation. Taking third place for Barry Tech was the Baldwin UFSD student Erson Zuna, for Auto Maintenance Light Repair.

Heading on to the National Leadership Conference are Jude Bertino from the Hicksville UFSD, Hyunjun Chang from the Great Neck UFSD, Brandon Nanoo from the Plainview-Old Bethpage CSD, the Jeremiah Rodriguez from the Westbury UFSD, and Trendall Storey from the Valley Stream CHSD.

Students participated virtually in a series of timed events related to their courses of study at Barry Tech or LIHSA, as well as in competitions in leadership and professional development. Students who are successful at the state level of competition advance to the National Leadership and Skills Conference, which will be held in Atlanta, GA during the month of 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-skill 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.”