Ulster BOCES

Eighteen young professionals from the Ulster BOCES Career & Technical Center earned medals at the 2026 New York State SkillsUSA competition, held at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse in late April. The Ulster County competitors joined thousands of students from more than 60 high schools across the state, showcasing their skills in technical, trade, and leadership competitions while also networking with peers and industry professionals.

Five young professionals secured first-place finishes and will advance to represent New York at the National SkillsUSA Competition this summer in Atlanta, Georgia. These students include:

• Seamus Dietz (New Paltz Central School District), Motorcycle Service Technology

• Evan LeSuer (Kingston City School District), Restaurant Services

• Teagen Meditz (Kingston City School District), 3D Visualization and Animation

• Makayla Petreschock (Highland Central School District), Cake Decorating

• Daniel Carlos Ramos Cano (Saugerties Central School District), 3D Visualization and Animation

Three students earned second-place medals:

• James DeWitt (Kingston City School District), CNC 3-Axis Milling Programmer

• Miguel Caba (Kingston City School District), Technical Drafting

• Zoe Tranter (Kingston City School District), Fashion Design

Ten students brought home third-place medals:

• Brett Bradford (Saugerties Central School District), Engineering Technology

• Frank Coddington (Rondout Valley Central School District), Engineering Technology

• Cody Johnson (Kingston City School District), Mobile Robotics

• Celia Mead (Rondout Valley Central School District), Community Action

• Kyle Menezes (Highland Central School District), Engineering Technology

• Grant Nam (Kingston City School District), Mobile Robotics

• Aliana Ramsay (Kingston City School District), Cybersecurity

• Thomas Rutledge (Saugerties Central School District), Cybersecurity

• Hayden Sackett (New Paltz Central School District), Community Action

• Quinn Yowell (New Paltz Central School District), Aviation Maintenance Technology

In addition to the students’ accomplishments, the Ulster BOCES SkillsUSA chapter was recognized with a Gold Level Chapter of Excellence award at the state competition. The Chapter of Excellence Program recognizes chapters that successfully integrate personal, workplace, and technical skills development into their activities while making a positive impact on their schools and communities.

SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers, and industry working together to ensure a skilled workforce. With more than 300,000 members nationwide, the organization promotes technical expertise, leadership, and career readiness. As a designated “total participation school,” Ulster BOCES ensures that every student enrolled in Career & Technical Education programs is a SkillsUSA member, removing financial barriers and providing equitable access to leadership and competition opportunities.

This year’s results reflect not only individual achievement, but also the strength of Ulster BOCES’ commitment to preparing students for success in high-demand careers.