Eight Ulster BOCES students from four local school districts came in first, second, and third place during career-specific competitions at a virtual SkillsUSA regional competition that took place March 22-25. The students are now qualified to compete at the virtual Area 4 SkillsUSA State Competition scheduled for April 21-23.

The students excelled in the categories of Internetworking, Internet Services, Job Skill Demonstration Year 1, Trade-Related Math, Prepared Speech, Carpenter’s Assistant, and Action Skills Basic. Students from Rockland, Orange, Ulster, Sullivan, and Westchester counties took part in the annual event, which is usually held in-person somewhere within the region.

Kudos to the following Ulster BOCES students: 

FIRST PLACE

• CISCO & Cybersecurity student Collin Biegel, from Saugerties High School, who placed first in the Information Technology Services category. 
• Robotics & Advanced Manufacturing student Nicholas Keglovitz, from Wallkill High School, who placed first in the Job Skill Demonstration Year 1 category.
• CISCO & Cybersecurity student Patrick Ruger, from Rondout Valley High School, who placed first in the Internetworking category.
• CISCO & Cybersecurity student Barrington Lewis, from Wallkill High School, who placed first in the Related Technical Math category.

SECOND PLACE

• Cosmetology student Campbell Curcio, from Kingston High School, who placed second in the Prepared Speech category.
• CISCO & Cybersecurity student Braydon O’Connor, from Rondout Valley High School, who placed second in the Internetworking category.

THIRD PLACE

• Transitional Occupations Program C student Joshua Santiago, from Rondout Valley High School, who placed third in the Action Skills Basic category. 
• Transitional Occupations Program C student Steven Schouten, from Kingston High School, who placed third in the Carpenter’s Assistant Category.  

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