Students from Nassau BOCES career and technical education schools — Barry Tech, GC Tech and Long Island High School for the Arts — earned top honors at the New York State Regional SkillsUSA Conference held recently at Suffolk County Community College. Eight students took first place, 14 placed second and 17 came in third place overall.
The regional conference is part of a national series of events sponsored by SkillsUSA to help develop a competitive, skilled workforce. During the event, students competed in timed, hands-on contests aligned with their programs of study, as well as leadership and professional development competitions. Students who succeed at the regional level advance to the State Conference in Syracuse, with top performers moving on to the National Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta in June.
SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry leaders working to prepare high school and college students for careers in the workforce. The program establishes industry standards for job skills training and promotes community service, and is recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor as a successful employer-driven youth development model.
Among the local honorees from Bellmore-Merrick, East Meadow, Levittown, Wantagh and Baldwin school districts were: Aidan Lehmann, East Meadow, Automotive Service Technology Competition, GC Tech Automotive Technology; AndaLucia Navetta, Wantagh, Digital Cinema Competition, Long Island High School for the Arts Film and Digital Media; Isabella Bonano, Levittown, Action Skills Competition, GC Tech Medical Assisting; Anthony Cruz Ramos, Baldwin, Pin Design Competition, Barry Tech Animation & Digital Media Skills; Tagan Moran, Levittown, Digital Cinema Competition, Long Island High School for the Arts Film and Digital Media; Liam Mugford, Baldwin, Carpentry Competition, Barry Tech Carpentry; Robert Fekete, Bellmore-Merrick, Job Interview Competition, Barry Tech Carpentry; Caeli Mugno, Levittown, Extemporaneous Speaking Competition, GC Tech Esthetics; Anthony Rampino, Bellmore-Merrick, Criminal Justice Competition, Barry Tech Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement; Sarah Wallis, Levittown, Employment Application Process Competition, GC Tech Esthetics; Matthew Rivas, East Meadow, Quiz Bowl Competition Team, GC Tech Automotive Technology; Matthew Silvestro, Levittown, Quiz Bowl Competition Team, GC Tech Construction Electric.
A vital regional resource, Nassau BOCES provides a range of programs and services for students of all ages, including career and technical education, special education and adult learning, while supporting school districts across Long Island.
