News

May 1, 2024

Capital Region BOCES Students from Several Area Schools Compete In New York State Competition

Nearly sixty high school students from 21 area school districts will represent Capital Region BOCES during a statewide competition later this month that tests their abilities in the skilled trades and workplace.

The students, who hail from as diverse districts as Schenectady and Sharon Springs to Cobleskill-Richmondville and Watervliet, are competing in events that showcase their work-related skills. The competition is being conducted at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse from April 24-27. Winners from that event will advance to the national SkillsUSA competition in June.

The high school juniors and seniors test their skills in everything from showcasing a knowledge of proper welding techniques to demonstrating how to solve a crime through their crime scene investigatory skills.

“It’s a great opportunity to showcase my abilities and see how well I can compete against kids my age and to meet new people,” said Kyle Dafeldecker, a Building Trades senior competing in the carpentry competition after winning the regional event last month.

The state competitors attend the Capital Region BOCES Career & Technical Education Center Albany and Schoharie Campuses from the following school districts: Bethlehem, Berne-Knox-Westerlo, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School, Cobleskill-Richmondville, Duanesburg, Gilboa-Conesville, Guilderland, Middleburgh, Mohonasen, Niskayuna, Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk, Rhinebeck (Dutchess County), Saratoga Springs, Schalmont, Schenectady, Schoharie, Scotia-Glenville, Sharon Springs, Shenendehowa, South Colonie and Voorheesville.

Students said they enjoy the challenge of competing at a statewide level.

“I am looking forward to having the chance to prove myself even more and go further than I already have. My family is excited to watch me perform at this level,” said Natalie Groelly, a Building Trades junior from Rhinebeck.

“I am looking forward to the whole experience. I am really excited to have won locals, and I am looking forward to gaining more experience and focusing on the little things at states,” added Stephen Noradki, a senior in the Diesel Tech program from Shenendehowa.

Some students are hoping to build on their experiences from last year at the state competition.

“Now that I have experienced states last year, I am hoping I can improve and be even more competitive,” said Sadie Plant, a Digital Media Design senior from Berne-Knox-Westerlo who finished fifth in the state competition last year.

Albany Campus competitors listed by name, program, competition they are registered in, and their home school district:

  • Jacob Alaimo, Cosmetology, barbering, Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk (RCS)
  • Yousif Alsammarraie, Network Cabling Technology, related technical math, Bethlehem
  • Chloe Armstrong, Welding and Metal Fabrication, welding fabrication, Schoharie
  • Soleil Asamoah, Criminal Justice, criminal justice, Guilderland
  • William Battaglia, Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning/Refrigeration (HVAC/R), HVAC/R, Mohonasen
  • Sophia Berlin, Global Fashion, fashion design, Bethlehem
  • Joseph Berube, Automotive Technology, auto service technology, CRCS
  • Devyn Brown, Culinary Arts and Hospitality Tech, cake decorating, Scotia-Glenville
  • Jack Buckley, Manufacturing and Machining Technology, CNC milling, Shenendehowa
  • Angelo Castro, Welding and Metal Fabrication, welding sculpture, Guilderland
  • Ian Caterina, Two-Year Sequence of Health Careers, first aid/CPR, Scotia-Glenville
  • Edmund Chase, Automotive Trades Technology, automotive maintenance and light repair, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School (BHBL)
  • John Collins, Game Design and Implementation, extemporaneous speaking, Schalmont
  • Genevieve Cooper, Culinary Arts, culinary arts, Shenendehowa
  • Conner Demania, Network Technology, employment app process, Saratoga Springs
  • Simon Durham, Automotive Trades Technology, auto vehicle main basic, Niskayuna
  • Dane Fendrick, Electrical Trades, electrical wiring, BHBL
  • Carleigh Flanagan, Pet Tech, action skills, South Colonie
  • Nicole Forbes, Digital Media Technology, job interview, Duanesburg
  • Garbiel Grimm – Henze, Manufacturing and Machining Technology, CNC milling, Scotia-Glenville
  • Natalie Groelly, Carpentry Services, carpenter’s assistant basic, Rhinebeck
  • Michael Harper, Welding and Metal Fabrication, welding fabrication, Duanesburg
  • Kaylin Haws, Culinary Arts, baking and pastry, Mohonasen
  • Cody Hosgood, HVAC/R, HVAC, Voorheesville
  • Aniella Kennedy, Cosmetology, cosmetology senior, Guilderland
  • Lucas Leach, Game Design and Implementation, interactive application video, Mohonasen
  • Emma Lewis, Early Childhood Education, early childhood education, Schalmont
  • Elliott Martinez, Network Technology, prepared speech, Bethlehem
  • Travis Masick, Welding and Metal Fabrication, welding, Mohonasen
  • Christina Mills, Automotive Collision Technology, auto refinishing technology, Scotia-Glenville
  • Alexis Montanez, Culinary Arts, job skill demo open, Shenendehowa
  • Stephen Noradki, Diesel Tech, diesel equipment tech, Shenendehowa
  • Liam Pierce, Network Technology, Internet of Things, Niskayuna
  • Sadie Plant, Digital Media, advertising design, BKW
  • Avery Pultorak, Cosmetology, cosmetology junior, BHBL
  • Andy Sanchez, Digital Media Design, banner, Duanesburg
  • Ben Skory, Network Cabling, customer service, Niskayuna
  • Jake Starman, Automotive Collision Technology, collision repair technology, Duanesburg
  • Jason Stevens Jr., Welding and Metal Fabrication, welding fabrication, RCS
  • Tegan Stevens, Game Design and Implementation, interactive application video, Mohonasen
  • Lillian Sweeney, Digital Media Design, banner, Guilderland
  • Bradley Teller, Culinary Arts, food preparation basic, Shenendehowa
  • Alaina Williams, Electrical Trades, job skill demonstration, Guilderland
  • Isabelle Zeglen, Culinary Arts, restaurant service, Schenectady

Schoharie Campus competitors listed by name, program, competition they are registered in, and their home school district:

  • Miranda Cancio, Cosmetology, cosmetology junior, Cobleskill-Richmondville (CRCS)
  • T.J. Caron, Criminal Justice, criminal justice, Berne-Knox-Westerlo (BKW)
  • Brandan Cross, Electrical Trades, electrical construction wiring, Gilboa-Conesville
  • Kyle Dafeldecker, Building Trades, carpentry, CRCS
  • Kailee Fletcher, Criminal Justice, crime scene investigation, Guilderland
  • Bertram Heath, Culinary Arts, culinary arts, Schoharie
  • Deagan Makarowski, Heavy Equipment, heavy equipment operation, CRCS
  • Madeline Markson, Culinary Arts, food prep basic, BKW
  • Brendon Mazza, Building Trades, masonry, CRCS
  • Louis Messias, Culinary Arts, baking and pastry arts, Sharon Springs
  • Wyatt Moss, Criminal Justice, crime scene investigation, Duanesburg
  • Ayumi Shaw, Criminal Justice, crime scene investigation, Middleburgh
  • Savannah Traverse, Heavy Equipment, job interview, Schoharie
  • Alexandria Weygant, Cosmetology, cosmetology senior, Middleburgh
  • Shayne Yazzie, Culinary Arts, restaurant services, CRCS

Other student representatives attending the state conference and competition are as follow: 

  1. Brian Barnett, Electrical Trades, House of Delegates, Guilderland
  2. Faith Coates, Global Fashion, House of Delegates, BKW
  3. Justin Colindres, Digital Media Design, House of Delegates, Shenendehowa

SkillsUSA is a career and technical student organization serving more than 395,000 high school and college students. The organization promotes personal and professional growth and offers students the opportunity to compete at the local, regional, state and national levels.