SkillsUSA students excel at regional competition

Thirty OCM BOCES Career & Technical Education students qualify
for New York State SkillsUSA competition at regional event

Feb. 16, 2023

OCM BOCES Career & Technical Education students in Cortland and Onondaga counties had an impressive showing Feb. 10 at the Regional SkillsUSA Competition at Morrisville State College.

Thirty students qualified for the state SkillsUSA competition on April 26-28 at the New York State Fairgrounds by earning top-three finishes. Students competed as individuals or teams in multiple categories that covered everything from health knowledge to automotive repair to information technology. In all, OCM BOCES had 24 top-three showings, including seven first- and second-place finishes and 10 third-place showings. A full list of students' names, home districts and other information about the event can be found in the chart below.

“We had an amazing number of students place in the top 3 from both campuses this year, and it is so exciting!” said Becky Robertson, a SkillsUSA co-advisor at the Cortlandville Campus. “The students worked really hard to prepare and were ready to showcase their skills. I think it is also important to note that we could not have had so many students place without the help and support of their teachers. They found extra time to work with the students, especially when it came to helping them with skills they may not have yet mastered.” 

Danielle Curtis, a SkillsUSA advisor at the Thompson Road Campus, echoed those comments.

“These kids are absolutely fantastic,” she said. “The huge amount of winners is a real testament to the amazing teachers we have. They truly go above and beyond for these kids, and it shows. There is this amazing energy this year with the kids and they are full of excitement. It is so rewarding as advisors to see them step outside of their comfort zones and take a risk.”

Heather Hardke, a co-advisor at Thompson Road, said she was proud of the students and impressed with how much they cheered each other, no matter what campus they attended. 

"I was so excited when we had students from each campus place in the top three," she said. "It shows how committed all of our CTE teachers are. There are no words to accurately say how thankful we are for them and for the support of our administrators. Without them, none of this would be possible. They truly are invested in our students and their success. The SkillsUSA motto is 'our time is now' — our administrators have made 'now' a reality for these young adults."

In addition to Robertson, Curtis and Hardke, Julie Allen is a co-advisor at the Cortlandville Campus.
 

OCM BOCES Regional Competition
Award Recipients
February 10, 2023
Morrisville State College

Student Name	District	BOCES Program	Competition	Award
Mackenzie Buhr Emma Dekenberger Ryleigh Larkin Cecelia Rappleyea	Homer DeRuyter Cortland Homer	Physical Therapy 1 New Vision Medical New Vision Medical New Vision Medical   Cortlandville Campus	Team Competition: Health Knowledge Bowl	1st Place
Karar Abed Joseph Lin Hannah Hussein Juliana Barber	East Syracuse Minoa Chittenango North Syracuse Liverpool	New Vision Medical New Vision Medical New Vision Medical New Vision Medical   Thompson Road Campus	Team Competition: Health Knowledge Bowl	3rd Place
Kadin Berner	Baldwinsville	Automotive Technology 2 Thompson Road Campus/ Driver’s Village	Automotive Vehicle Maintenance Basic	3rd Place
Tyerra Blake	Cortland	Cosmetology 1 Cortlandville Campus	Nail Care	3rd Place
Silas Boice	Marathon	Automotive Technology 1 Cortlandville Campus	Automotive Service Technology	3rd Place
Anella Bolster	Marcellus	New Vision Medical Thompson Road Campus	Medical Terminology	2nd Place
Emily Campbell	Tully	Cosmetology 1 Cortlandville Campus	Nail Care Model	3rd Place
Clarissa Fake	North Syracuse	Cosmetology 1 Thompson Road Campus	Job Interview	2nd Place
Jack Fisselbrand	Liverpool/ Innovation Tech	Computer Technology 1 Thompson Road Campus	Information Technology Services	1st Place
Riley Flynn	West Genesee	Cosmetology 2 Thompson Road Campus	Nail Care	2nd Place
Jake Guay	Homer	Welding 1 Cortlandville Campus	Related Technical Math	1st Place
Anialae Herbert	Cortland	Health Occupations 2 Cortlandville Campus	Nurse Assistant	3rd Place
Desiree Hobart	Homer	Health Occupations 1 Cortlandville Campus	Medical Math	3rd Place
Caleb Howard	North Syracuse	Construction Technology 2 Thompson Road Campus	Carpenter’s Assistant	1st Place
Elizabeth Hurd	Cortland	Early Childhood Education 2 Cortlandville Campus	Early Childhood	2nd Place
Matthew Kneer	Fayetteville-Manlius	Automotive Collision 2 Thompson Road Campus	Collision Repair Technology	2nd Place
Joseph Miller	Homer	Automotive Collision 2 Cortlandville Campus	Collision Repair Technology	3rd Place
Zinat Mohammadi	East Syracuse Minoa	New Vision Medical Thompson Road Campus	Medical Math	1st Place
Brook Morsey	Marathon	Health Occupations 1 Cortlandville Campus	Basic Health Care Skills	2nd Place
Nathan McMullin	Homer	Heavy Equipment Repair and Diesel Technology 2 Cortlandville Campus	Diesel Equipment Technology	3rd Place
Kortney Slavick	Cortland	Early Childhood Education 2 Cortlandville Campus/ Seven Valleys New Tech	Job Demo A	1st Place
Sebastian Warner	Fayetteville-Manlius	Construction Technology 2 Thompson Road Campus	Carpentry	2nd Place
Cella Wood	North Syracuse	New Vision Medical Thompson Road Campus	Medical Terminology	3rd Place
Brian Yager	Baldwinsville	Automotive Technology 2 Thompson Road Campus/ Driver’s Village	Automotive Service Technology	1st Place