Nineteen students from Nassau BOCES high schools, Barry Tech, GC Tech and Long Island High School for the Arts, took top honors at the New York State SkillsUSA Leadership and Skills Championships held in Syracuse earlier this spring. Students participated in a series of timed events related to their courses of study at Nassau BOCES, as well as in competitions in leadership and professional development. Six students took first place, six came in second place and seven took third place in their respective competitions. Nassau BOCES Barry Tech Physical Therapy Aide & Rehabilitation Medicine student Kerrisha Jean from the Hewlett-Woodmere UFSD was named NYS SkillsUSA Area VI Vice President.
First place
Scott Wong – Audio/Radio Production
Long Island High School for the Arts, Audio Production
Syosset CSD
Loughlin Reid-Cleary – Audio/Radio Production
Long Island High School for the Arts, Audio Production
Lynbrook UFSD
Sharon Wang Liu – Pin Design
Barry Tech, Animation & Digital Media Design II
Bethpage UFSD
Bradley Nanoo – Electrical Construction Wiring
Barry Tech, Construction Electric II
Plainview-Old Bethpage CSD
Alexa Teta – Interactive Application & Video Gaming
Barry Tech, Computer Game Design II
Levittown UFSD
Connor Rowland – Interactive Application & Video Gaming
Barry Tech, Computer Game Design II
Oceanside UFSD
Second Place
Gianna Smith – Cake Decorating
Barry Tech, Culinary Arts I
Bethpage UFSD
Wes Melendez – Culinary Quiz Bowl
Barry Tech, Culinary Arts II
Baldwin UFSD
Rebecca Sapiro – Culinary Quiz Bowl
Barry Tech, Culinary Arts II
Herricks UFSD
Emely Ventura Bonilla – Medical Assisting
GC Tech, Medical Assisting
East Meadow UFSD
Stella Rinaudo – Animation and Digital Media Design
Long Island High School for the Arts, 3D Animation
Massapequa UFSD
Madison Villalobos – Animation and Digital Media Design
Long Island High School for the Arts, 3D Animation
Massapequa UFSD
Third Place
Yasmine Porcaro – Prepared Speech
Barry Tech, Nurse Assisting II
North Shore CSD
Michael Berrios – Internet of Things
Barry Tech, Network Cabling Technician/HTI
Hicksville UFSD
Brad Chen – Culinary Arts
Barry Tech, Culinary Arts II
Jericho UFSD
Rebecca Sapiro – Culinary Quiz Bowl
Barry Tech, Culinary Arts II
Herricks UFSD
Emely Ventura Bonilla – Medical Assisting
GC Tech, Medical Assisting
East Meadow UFSD
Stella Rinaudo – Animation and Digital Media Design
Long Island High School for the Arts, 3D Animation
Massapequa UFSD
Madison Villalobos – Animation and Digital Media Design
Long Island High School for the Arts, 3D Animation
Massapequa UFSD
Considerable effort goes into qualifying for the annual SkillsUSA competition. These students have a double workload, not only completing their CTE assignments but also satisfying full courses of study at their home schools. Add to that the intensive training that it takes to earn the privilege of competing in SkillsUSA, and it becomes clear how tirelessly these students work.
The competition is part of SkillsUSA’s mission to provide our country with a competitive, skilled workforce. 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 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.”
