The SkillsUSA Pennsylvania Championships are the state-level competitions for public high school and college students enrolled in trade, technical, and skilled service professional instruction programs, including allied health occupations.
Hershey, Pennsylvania, is the host site for the each year. While the leadership events are taking place, skill competitions are hosted at the Lebanon County Exposition Center and various school sites. Begun in 1965, the Championships have grown to over 80 hands-on and leadership competitions. The SkillsUSA Pennsylvania State Conference is comprised of over 1800 attendees, which includes judges from business and industry, educational exhibitors, advisors, competitors and delegates.
The Championships program begins at the local level with contests in classrooms. Winners advance through district, regional and state competitions, and only the best make it to the national event. Students benefit no matter how they place in their contests. They test their skills, frequently make job contacts, and have a chance for recognition.
Nineteen students from the Career Technology Center of Lackawanna County attended the 48th SkillsUSA Pennsylvania Skill and Leadership Conference. They advanced from the District level competitions to compete to represent PA at the National level. The areas they competed in were Automotive Refinishing, Automotive Servicing Technology, Chapter Business Procedure, Customer Service, Crime Scene Investigation, Employment Application Process, First Aid/CPR, Information Services Technology, Nurse Assisting, & Telecommunications Cabling.
The students competed and let their training shine. There were some 4th and 5th place finishes, and some Gold and Silver medal winners! Brenden Calpin, a Protective Services student from Scranton High, won a Silver medal in First Aid/CPR, The Chapter Business Procedure team from Electrical Occupations consisted of Matthew Clutter & Erick Duverge, West Scranton, Steven Gonzalez, Scranton High, Ryan Kelley, Carbondale, Jestin Krinsky & Christopher Valenza, Valley View won a Silver medal. The Crime Scene Investigation team from Protective Services consisting of Alexander Boyarsky, Lakeland, Conner Keirnan, Mid Valley, and Alexander Zakreski, North Pocono won a Gold medal in their competition and will be competing in the 2015 National SkillsUSA Championships in Louisville, Kentucky June 2015.
Thomas Czachor, SkillsUSA Advisor, said “The students competed hard and did their best, all we asked of them. Medal or not, their instructors, administration and staff at the CTC are extremely proud of our competitors for getting to the state level. They are all young professionals and showed that during their competitions.”