Six Local BOCES students win at NYS SkillsUSA and move on to Nationals

WATERTOWN N.Y. (WWTI) – BOCES Career and Technical Education students tested their skills and knowledge against fellow students from across New York by participating in the 2024 NYS SkillsUSA Leadership and Skills Championship at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse April 24 to 26. A total of 12 students won gold, silver and bronze medals in 9 competitions.

Charles H. Bohlen, Jr. Technical Center in Watertown had Seventy-three students and 11 students from the Howard G. Sackett Technical Center in Glenfield participated in the competition. Six first place, gold medal winning students can be selected to compete at the SkillsUSA Nationals on June 24 to 28 in Atlanta, Georgia. They are:

• Star Hutcheon from LaFargeville;
• Matthew Mason from Thousand Islands;
• Jaden Brapoh from Watertown;
• Logan Petersen from IHC;
• Alexia Mynch from LaFargeville; and
• Trent Smith from Watertown.

Marina Munn from South Lewis and the Sackett Center took first place in the Cake Decorating competition, however, that competition is not offered at the Nationals.

SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry representatives working together to protect America’s skills workforce. It is a national membership organization serving middle school, high school, and college/post-secondary students. These students are preparing to have in careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations.

Each spring, Career and Technical Education students from across the State come together to compete against each other in various events related to trade skills, ranging from carpentry to computers. The judges in many of these competitions are those who work in that particular field or trade.

Below is the complete list of students who won medals at the New York State competition.

Bohlen Technical Center

1st Place Gold Medal:

• Action Skills: Star Hutcheon (LaFargeville)
• Medical Math: Natalya Seery (Lyme)
• Power Equipment Technology: Matthew Mason (Thousand Islands)
• Promotional Bulletin Board: Jaden Brapoh (Watertown), Alexia Mynch (LaFargeville), Trent Smith (Watertown)

2nd Place Silver Medal:

• Advertising Design: Logan Petersen (IHC)

3rd Place Bronze Medal:

• Criminal Justice: Sophia Shoen (Indian River)
• Job Demonstration A: Cameron Kilbourn (Carthage)
• Web Design: Caiden LaLonde (Watertown), Danielle Robinson (South Jefferson)

Sackett Technical Center

1st Place Gold Medal:

• Cake Decorating: Marina Munn (South Lewis)

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