Area students to compete in statewide SkillsUSA

— Photo from BOCES

Alex Wright, from Bethlehem, right, shown here with factory representative Lou Spada from Hunter Engineering joined Tyler Kearney of Scotia-Glenville — both are Capital Region BOCES Career and Technical School automotive students — competing April 7 and 8 in the National Automotive Technician Competition. They worked with CTE staff as well as factory representatives from Hunter Engineering student competitors. Wright and Kearney placed second in the 2015 Eastern New York Coalition of Automotive Retailers, Inc., Regional Automotive Technology Competition at Hudson Valley Community College on Jan. 16.

These local Capital Region BOCES Career and Technical Education students earned the right to compete April 22 to 24 at SkillsUSA championships in Syracuse after placing among the top finishers in each of their events during a regional competition conducted in Schenectady last month:

Meaghan Irving, Bethlehem, prepared speech;

Brandon Liddle, Guilderland, collision repair;

Sam Machia, Guilderland, small engine repair;

Janessa Malphrus, Berne-Knox-Westerlo, promotional bulletin board;

— Sierra Rathburn, BKW, promotional bulletin board;

Michelle VanAlstyne, Voorheesville, crime scene investigation;

Nick Wilson, Guilderland, house of delegates; 

Larissa Malphurs, BKW, criminal justice;

Brandon Dalton, Schoharie, security;

Alex Curry, BKW, photographer;

Dakota Maynard, BKW, security; and

Jessica Rue, BKW, state officer/delegate. 

Winners of the state competition are eligible to advance to the national competition in Kentucky in June.

SkillsUSA is a national organization for career and technical education students that promotes personal and professional growth and offers them the opportunity to compete at the local, regional, state and national levels.

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