Connecticut Technical High School Students Earn High Honors in National Skills Competition

Students from the Connecticut Technical Education and Career System (CTHSS) showcased their skills and earned high honors at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference (NLSC) held in Louisville, Ky., on June 20-24. The students entered 42 events with 16,000 total participants, earning two gold medals, one bronze medal and a total of 29 top-twenty placements. According to national statistics the group was already considered to be in the top two percent in the nation before entering the national event.

The competitive categories covered a wide variety of skills, including audio-radio production, medical terminology, job interviewing, masonry and graphic communications.

“I am so proud of all of the students who participated in the SkillsUSA Leadership and Skills Conference,” said Dr. Nivea L. Torres, Superintendent of CTHSS. She added, “Year-after-year, I am continually impressed by our students’ performances on the national level in such a diverse range of skills competitions. This year’s success exemplifies the hard work these students have put in all year with the help of our wonderful teachers. We could not have asked for a better group to represent CTHSS.”

Heidi Balch, activities coordinator for SkillsUSA in Connecticut, was impressed that students coming from technical high schools around the state were able to bond so quickly and work toward a common goal. “These students should be very proud of what they were able to accomplish. Not only did they use their minds and hands, but they worked together as Team CT. They put aside their differences in backgrounds and career paths to achieve great things.”

Gold Medalist

• Brett Hawran & Jacob Hawran, Prince Tech, Place 1^st in Audio-Radio Production
• Daria Stifel, Norwich Tech, Placed 1^st in Electrical Construction Wiring

Bronze Medalist

• Eric White, Kaynor Tech, Placed 3^rd in Technical Drafting

Top Ten Finishers

• Allison Butkus, Justin Fortin & Joshua Somma, Kaynor Tech, placed 4^th in Community Service
• Zackary Golebiewski, Alexander Milslagle, Delaney Ruiz, Matthew Ryan, Jorge Sanchez, Jason Tomlinson & Evan Volpert, Wilcox Tech, placed 4^th in Opening and Closing Ceremonies
• Jon Petrucci, Kaynor Tech, Placed 4^th in Job Interview
• Robert Kennedy, Prince Tech, Placed 5^th in Plumbing
• Bret Olsen, Wilcox Tech, Placed 6^th in Prepared Speech
• Joseph Lanche, Platt Tech, Placed 7^th in CNC Milling Specialist
• Casey Viens, Norwich Tech, Placed 7^th in Related Technical Math
• Aaron Boutin, Goodwin Tech, Placed 9^th in Cabinetmaking
• Kenneth Sager, Norwich Tech, Placed 10^th in Graphic Communications
• Henry Reardon, Windham Tech, Placed 10^th in Job Skill Demonstration

Top Twenty Finishers

• Nicholas Chrostek, Platt Tech, Placed 11^th in HVACR
• Loriea Crudup, Platt Tech, Placed 12^th in CNC Turning Specialist
• Rachael Krystopowicz, O’Brien Tech, Placed 14^th in First Aid CPR
• Elizabeth Salazar, Bullard-Havens, Placed 14^th in Commercial Baking
• Jacob Burkey, Pedro Galarza, Joseph Irizarry, Nathanial Quintana & Joseph Wilson, Windham Tech, Placed 14^th in Quiz Bowl
• Tymar Hunt, Eli Whitney Tech, Placed 14^th in Extemporaneous Speaking
• Dana Barrow, Ellis Tech, Placed 15^th in Masonry
• Benjamin Bassett & William Bassett, Platt Tech, Placed 15^th in Mobile Robotics
• Keila Lastraglio, Grasso Tech, Placed 15^th in Restaurant Service
• Karen Campoverde & Galilea Yanza, Platt Tech, Placed 15^th in Robotics and Automation
• Kamau Russell, Kaynor Tech, Placed 16^th in Job Skill Demo A
• Arthur Sweet, Cheney Tech, Placed 17^th in Diesel Equipment Technology
• Devin Bialek, Norwich Tech, Placed 17^th in Automotive Service Technology
• Zachary Stoor, Wilcox Tech, Placed 18^th in Collision Repair Technology
• Shayenne Dorcely, Grasso Tech, Placed 20^th in Customer Service
• Robert McClardy, Grasso Tech, Placed 20^th in Technical Computer Applications