News
April 18, 2019Capital Region BOCES Students Gear Up for State Competition
Capital Region BOCES students are hard at work preparing to test their work-based skills later this month against the best of the best from across New York State.
Dozens of students will compete at the state SkillsUSA competition in events ranging from precision heavy equipment operation to heating, ventilation and air conditioning repair and automotive technology. The competition will be conducted April 24-26, 2019 at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse. Winners of that event will advance to the national competition in Kentucky in June.
“I am looking forward to meeting other people in the industry and to put my skills to the test to see how I do,” said Bryan Sidney, an HVAC student at Capital Region BOCES from Voorheesville.
The students, who hail from school districts as far-reaching as Cohoes and Cobleskill-Richmondville, showed expertise in a diverse spectrum of job skills at the regional SkillsUSA competition in Schenectady and Scotia in March. By doing so, they earned the right to compete at the state SkillsUSA event on the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse.
“This is my second year going to regionals and last year I placed fourth so I am glad to see the improvement. … I am really excited to go to states to see if I can place this year,” said Megan O’Toole, a culinary student from Voorheesville who will compete at the state competition in the restaurant services competition.
Many of the student-competitors express confidence in their abilities to win the state competition.
“I am looking forward to winning states and going to nationals,” said Maddy Tanzman, an entertainment technology student from Shenendehowa competing in the spoken word competition.
“I am looking forward to the states and then it’s on to nationals in Kentucky,” added Karee Hildreth, a fellow culinary student from Schalmont.
Automotive student Joe Pedersen has a similar outlook.
“Regionals were easy. I am looking forward to states. I should do well,” the normally soft-spoken future mechanic said.
Regardless of the final results of the state competition, the students will gain valuable experiences and make professional connections.
“States will give us an opportunity to gain more experience in the CJ field and meet and talk with other new people,” said Connor Mickel, a criminal justice competitor from Sharon Springs.
“I am looking forward to learning more things that I can use in the future,” said Taylor Lang, a culinary competitors from Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk.
“The state competition will give us a scenario that is more realistic of how it is in the workplace – they show you a picture and you have to do that style. I am looking forward to testing my abilities in that scenario,” said Alyssa Valentina, a cosmetology student from South Colonie.
