OCM BOCES Students Advance to SkillsUSA National Championships

June 17, 2025

Two OCM BOCES Students Advance to National SkillsUSA Championships in Atlanta

Two OCM BOCES students in the Heavy Equipment Repair, Operations and Diesel Technology program are headed to Atlanta, Ga., June 23-27 to compete in the prestigious SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference. The students earned their place at nationals after top finishes at the SkillsUSA New York State Championships, held April 23-25 at the New York State Fairgrounds. Their achievements highlight both their technical skill and dedication, as they prepare to represent Central New York on the national stage.

Tyler O’Connor Tyler O'Conner Tyler O’Connor has been operating heavy equipment since the age of four—unofficially, of course. Now a senior at Chittenango High School and a standout student in the Heavy Equipment Repair, Operations and Diesel Technology program at OCM BOCES, O’Connor is taking that early hands-on experience to the national stage. The Chitennango student recently qualified for the 2025 SkillsUSA Championships, set for June 23–27 in Atlanta, Georgia. His path to the national event began with a strong showing at the regional SkillsUSA competition held Feb. 7 at SUNY Morrisville, and continued with a top-three finish at the New York State competition at the New York State Fairgrounds in April. He was one of ten OCM BOCES students to place among the top three at the state level. O’Connor is part of the HERO program—Heavy Equipment Repair, Operations and Diesel Technology—an embedded program based at Tracey Road Equipment in Syracuse. “I heard about my program through our initial orientation our school gave, talking about the different programs,” O’Connor said. “I chose the program because my grandparents own a construction company and I’ve been running equipment since I was four. I thought I’d get something out of it, so I joined.” O’Connor credited his BOCES teacher, Bryan Wilson, for guiding him into SkillsUSA competition. Wilson said O’Connor’s passion for the trade is evident and consistent in his work. “Tyler's accomplishments are a prime example of what hard work and dedication can achieve,” he said. “Tyler takes a lot of pride in everything he works on, and his eye for detail, work ethic and motivation will lead him to great success.” Though he admitted he was “a little hesitant at first,” O’Connor quickly grew to enjoy the program. “At the local competition, it was mostly smaller equipment and it was an obstacle course, basically,” he said. “You had a skid steer, they had us set up pallets and you had to move pallets, attach a bucket to a back blade. They graded you on your operation and pre-trip, your knowledge of machine controls and knowing where it should be.” O’Connor approached the state competition with a laid-back mindset. “I was there watching it and I was honestly thinking about just leaving because I was tired of sitting there,” he said. “I’ll just wait until my competition comes. I was kind of in shock. I was there just to enjoy myself, I didn’t care if I placed.” Looking back, O’Connor encourages other high school sophomores to consider career and technical education pathways as an option starting their junior year. “If it was me and I didn’t know anything about heavy equipment, I would say it’s a great program,” he said.

William Bell William Bell Cazenovia High School student William "Billy" Bell is heading to the National SkillsUSA competition this summer. He secured a first-place win in Power Equipment Technology at the 2025 SkillsUSA New York State competition. Billy defines this field as encompassing "any motorized vehicle from 1 to 35 horsepower, and most of which is carbonated." His success is a testament to his talent and the strong educational journey he's had, built on the robust foundation provided by Cazenovia CSD and his specialized Career & Technical Education (CTE) at OCM BOCES. Billy credits his high school education at Cazenovia CSD as a crucial springboard for his accomplishments. He specifically recognized the impact of Mandi Millen's classes. "Ms. Millen's class helped a lot, especially because I already knew a lot about safety from the months and months of safety training with Ms. Millen," he said. This early exposure to crucial safety protocols provided a distinct advantage as he delved into more advanced technical training. Furthermore, Billy's participation in Cazenovia CSD's CTE offerings, including a small gas engine repair class, directly contributed to his competitive edge. "That CTE class helped me a lot in competition because I already knew most of the small engine repairs," he said. Millen, Billy's agricultural mechanics teacher at Cazenovia High School, praised his early dedication. "Billy Bell was a hardworking student in the Agricultural Mechanics classes where he learned how to tear down, rebuild and troubleshoot small gas engines," she said. "He also competed in a number of FFA events as a member of the Cazenovia Aggies FFA Chapter.” Currently, Billy is immersed in the OCM BOCES Heavy Equipment Repair, Operations and Diesel Technology program. This comprehensive two-year course, located at Tracey Road Equipment in Syracuse, provides high school students with crucial skills in the operation and repair of heavy equipment and heavy-duty diesel trucks. Billy described the hands-on learning environment, where students are "just turning wrenches, and figuring things out as a team." He credited his teacher, Bryan Wilson, for pushing him to improve. "100% thank you Mr. Wilson, for kind of pushing me to improve my skills," Billy said. Reflecting on his journey, Billy offered valuable advice to other students considering CTE programs or SkillsUSA. "Be honest when you don't know something," he advised. "It's better to ask a question and just admit that you don't know, than to mess something up and have to deal with the consequences."