The Berks Career
and Technology Center (BCTC) hosted the 2002-2003 State SkillsUSA-VICA
Competition, March 30, 31 and April 1, 2003. Approximately 1,400 high
school students from across the commonwealth competed in 50 occupational
and leadership skill areas at both the East Campus and West Campus during
the three-day period. The competition also included adult day students
who qualified at the regional level. These students competed on the same
skills standards determined by the state organization but on a post-secondary
level. Nearly 150 members of the Berks business community served as judges
overseeing the technical skills competition.
SkillsUSA-VICA
is a national organization serving more than 250,000 high school and college
students and professional members who are enrolled in training programs
in technical, skilled, and service occupations, including health occupations.
SkillsUSA-VICA provides quality education experiences for students in
leadership, teamwork, citizenship and character development. It builds
and reinforces self-confidence, work attitudes and communications skills.
SkillsUSA-VICA programs also help to establish industry standards for
job skill training in the classroom.
According to Dr.
Robert A. Runkle, administrative director, the Berks Career and Technology
Center was pleased to have this opportunity to serve as host of this important
state competition. "With our recent modernization project now completed,
a "technical treasure" has been created right here in Berks
County," remarked Runkle. "We are very proud to share the facility
and technology with the other career and technology schools within the
commonwealth."
"This was
a very high profile event for Berks County," explained Runkle. "It
not only showcased the best career and technical students in the commonwealth
competing against their peers in their chosen fields, but also provided
Berks County employers the opportunity to observe the skills of our future
workforce."
Students from BCTC
who qualified in the regional competition were invited to compete in the
state competition. First-place medal winners in the state event will go
on to the national SkillsUSA-VICA competition to be held June 23-28, 2003
in Kansas City, Kansas.
BCTC students were awarded 10 gold medals, four silver medals and one
bronze medal.
Automotive
Service Specialization
Silver Medal: Zackery J. Marks, senior, Automotive Technology, East
Campus, Exeter Township High School
$1,500 scholarship to
the Pennsylvania College of Technology and other awards
Automotive
Service Technology
Gold Medal: Jason Franhouser, senior, West Campus, Automotive
Technology, Governor Mifflin High School
$2,500 scholarship - Pennsylvania
College of Technology plus other
awards. Scholarships to the Advanced Technology Institute and Northwestern
College of Ohio
Building
Maintenance (Custodial Services)
Bronze Medal: James A. Samuels, junior, East Campus, Service
Occupations, Twin Valley High School
$1,000 scholarship to the Pennsylvania College of Technology
Culinary
Arts
Gold Medal: Lee Styer, senior, West Campus, Culinary Arts, Governor
Mifflin High School
$2,500 scholarship - Pennsylvania
College of Technology
scholarships to the Culinary Institute of America and Johnson and
Wales University
Dental
Assisting
Gold Medal: Bryn S. Pellicciotti, senior, East Campus, Dental
Occupations, Daniel Boone High School
$2,500 scholarship to
the Pennsylvania College of Technology
Diesel
Equipment Technology
Gold Medal: Jesse R. Bitler, senior, East Campus, Diesel Technology,
Oley Valley High School
$2,500 scholarship to
the Pennsylvania College of Technology and
a scholarship to the Universal Technical Institute
Nurse
Assisting
Silver Medal: Liz Johnson, senior, West Campus, Health Occupations,
Wilson Area High School
$1,500 scholarship to
the Pennsylvania College of Technology
Painting
and Decorating
Gold Medal: Jenna Luckenbill, junior, West Campus,Painting and
Decorating, Tulpehocken High School
$2,500 scholarship to
the Pennsylvania College of Technology
Photography
Gold Medal: Steve Maddenford, senior, West Campus, Photo Imaging Technology,
Schuylkill Valley High School
$2,500 scholarship to
the Pennsylvania College of Technology
and a scholarship to the Hallmark Institute of Photography
Power
Equipment Technology
Gold Medal: Nate Heimbach, senior, West Campus, Recreational & Power
Equipment Technology, Boyertown Area High School
$2,500 scholarship to
the Pennsylvania College of Technology
Precision
Machining Technology
Silver Medal: Jeff Merkel, senior, West Campus, Computerized
Machining Technology, Hamburg High School
$1,500 scholarship to
the Pennsylvania College of Technology
Related
Technical Math
Gold Medal: Matthew Burkhart, junior, West Campus, Information
Technology Applications, Governor Mifflin High School
$2,500 scholarship to
the Pennsylvania College of Technology
Residential
Wiring
Silver Medal: Jarod Lentz, senior East Campus, Electrical
Occupations, Kutztown High School
$1,500 scholarship to
the Pennsylvania College of Technology
Team
Works
Gold Medal: BCTC Team Works, East Campus
Kevin Cogan,
senior, Masonry, Exeter Township High School
Joshua
Youpa, senior, Building Construction Occupations, Home Schooled, Kutztown
School District
Daniel
Weiser, senior, Carpentry, Oley Valley High School
Darral
Reinert, senior, Plumbing & Heating, Oley Valley High
School
$2,500 scholarship
for each student to the Pennsylvania College of Technology