After an action-packed day of demonstrating their technical skills and leadership qualities while facing off against students from across the region during the 2025 SkillsUSA Regional Competition, 46 young professionals from the Ulster BOCES Career & Technical Center took to the stage to accept medals.

The regional competition, held on Saturday, February 1 in Valhalla, NY, featured timed contests in trade, leadership, and community service skills. The competition was a perfect way to kick off Career & Technical Education Month. The Ulster BOCES competitors joined hundreds of participants from Region IV to showcase their knowledge and abilities in 38 work-based categories, including Prepared Speech, Culinary Arts, Collision Repair Technology, CNC Milling, Automated Manufacturing, and more.

The Ulster BOCES delegation secured an impressive 17 first-place, 17 second-place, and 12 third-place medals in 25 different categories. Caden Salamone, a young professional from New Paltz Central School District, was elected New York Area IV Vice President and National Delegate.

SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers, and industry partners working together to ensure that the country has a skilled workforce. With more than 300,000 members nationwide, SkillsUSA promotes technical expertise, skills, and leadership. 

Assistant Director of Career Pathways Programs for Career & Technical Education Joseph Salamone, celebrated the level of engagement and excellence demonstrated by the Ulster BOCES delegation at the competition, and noted how the schools designation as  a “total participation” school, provides the opportunity for every young professional who wishes to participate to do so.  “Through our commitment to ensuring equitable opportunities for all students by removing the financial barriers of participation, we are able to create inclusive and meaningful opportunities for young professionals to grow their leadership and technical skills, engage with peers from across the region, and connect with industry professionals and potential employers—experiences that can truly shape their futures.”

Many of these competitors will advance to the New York State SkillsUSA Competition in Syracuse later this spring, with hopes of qualifying for the National Competition in Atlanta at the end of the school year.

 

Specific Winners, listed by their home school district, include:

 

Ellenville Central School District

Madison Shaw, 1st Place, Information Technology Services

Gabriel Julca, 1st Place, Internetworking

Alen Ibric, 1st Place, Job Interview

Henry Jones, 3rd Place, Quiz Bowl

Kwaku Boahen, 3rd Place, Quiz Bowl 

Jonathan Torres, 3rd Place, Quiz Bowl 

Phoebe Baker, 3rd Place, Quiz Bowl     

Miguel Caba, 2nd Place, Automated Manufacturing     

Aymora Williams, 2nd Place, Automated Manufacturing              

Evan Zheng, 2nd Place, Automated Manufacturing

 

Highland Central School District

Isabella Santana, 1st Place, Prepared Speech

Carter Okrent, 1st Place, Quiz Bowl 

Katherine Fitzgerald, 2nd Place, Cosmetology Quiz Bowl

Hayley Sutfin, 2nd Place, Cosmetology Quiz Bowl

Belen Ocampo Quiroz, 3rd Place, Esthetics

Madeline Violaris, 3rd Place, Esthetics 

 

Kingston City School District

Adam Beitl, 1st Place, Action Skills Basic 

Melina Mosby, 1st Place, Cosmetology Senior

Ethan Bates, 1st Place, Quiz Bowl        

Patrick Sheehan, 1st Place, Quiz Bowl

Tabech Sweeney, 2nd Place, Information Technology

Cassidy Liedy, 2nd Place, Nurse Assisting

Jacob Sauers, 3rd Place, CNC 3-Axis Milling Programmer

Wendylove Mireku, 3rd Place, Prepared Speech     

Aiden Valentin, 2nd Place, Culinary Quiz Bowl                      

Ashor Raal, 1st Place, Automated Manufacturing     

James DeWitt, 1st Place, Automated Manufacturing

 

New Paltz Central School District

Nicholas Dobosh, 2nd Place, Action Skills Basic                                                                 

Quinn Yowell, 1st Place, Quiz Bowl  

Ruth Kurland, 2nd Place, Cosmetology Quiz Bowl 

Ethan Greger, 2nd Place, CNC 3-Axis Milling Programmer  

Cesar Mendez Newell, 2nd Place, Culinary Quiz Bowl 

Carly Brustein,  2nd Place, Culinary Quiz Bowl              

Jacob Frost, 1st Place, Automated Manufacturing                   

Caden Salamone, Area IV Vice President Elect

 

Onteora Central School District

Payton Kothe, 3rd Place, Job Skill Demonstration - Year 2

Jacob Holt, 3rd Place, Quiz Bowl 

 

Rondout Valley Central School District

Hudson Rowan, 3rd Place, Collision Repair Technology

 

Saugerties Central School District

Ian Vickery, 1st Place, CNC 3-Axis Milling Programmer

Caitlyn Rafferty, 1st Place, Culinary Arts

Rylee Owen, 1st Place, T-Shirt Design

Kendra Bell, 2nd Place, Cosmetology Quiz Bowl 

Alexandra Landa, 2nd Place, Cosmetology Quiz Bowl 

Thomas Rutledge, 2nd Place, Internetworking

Annalysse Garcia, 3rd Place, Cosmetology Senior

 

Wallkill Central School District

Dylan McPhail, 1st Place, Quiz Bowl  

Kyle Walsh, 2nd Place, Job Interview