BCTC STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN STATE SKILLS COMPETITION

April 8, 2004

The Pennsylvania Association of SkillsUSA held its annual state leadership conference on April 5-6, 2004 , at the A.W. Beattie Area Vocational Technical School in Pittsburgh . Approximately 2,000 students from across the commonwealth, including 47 students from the Berks Career and Technology Center , had the opportunity to compete in the statewide event. Four gold, four silver, and two bronze medals were awarded to BCTC students with two students qualifying to represent the Career Center at the 2004 SkillsUSA national competition in June.

Jason Rowlands, an Automotive Technology student at BCTC’s West Campus and a Wilson Area senior took first place honors in the category of automotive service specialization. Rowlands received approximately $10,000 in scholarship monies from Northwestern University of Ohio, and the Pennsylvania College of Technology, New England Institute of Technology, and Universal Technical Institute. Three students at BCTC’s East Campus also achieved first place standings. Paul Nowotarski, an Exeter Township senior enrolled in Building Construction Occupations competed in the building maintenance technology event and was awarded a $2,500 scholarship from the Pennsylvania College of Technology. Exeter Township junior, Bryan Schulze a student in the Electrical Occupations program received $5,000 in scholarships from the Pennsylvania College of Technology and the New England Institute of Technology for his participation in the industrial motor control competition. Danelle Bruno, a student in BCTC’s Horticulture program and a sophomore at Kutztown Area School District placed first in Job Skill Demonstration B and was awarded $2,000 from the New England Institute of Technology. Rowlands and Bruno will travel to Kansas City , Kansas , June 23-27 for the 39 th annual national conference.

Students enrolled in the following BCTC programs achieved second place standings: graphic communications, culinary arts, plumbing and heating and other construction trades. Steven Pluta, a senior at Conrad Weiser School District and a student in the Graphic Imaging Technology program at the West Campus took second place and received a $1,500 scholarship from the Pennsylvania College of Technology. Antietam senior, Scott Gery finished second in the culinary arts competition and accepted $4,500 in scholarships from the French Culinary Institute of New York, Culinary Institute of America, and Pennsylvania College of Technology. Robert Fox, a student in BCTC’s Plumbing and Heating program and a Boyertown Area senior placed second in the residential plumbing event and received $3,000 in scholarships from the Pennsylvania College of Technology and the New England Institute of Technology.

BCTC also took silver in one of the newest competitions in the construction trades area of the conference -TeamWorks. Medal winners were Joshua Babura, Conrad Weiser senior and Plumbing and Heating student, Joseph Mengel, Kutztown Area senior and Building Construction Occupations student, Nathan Miller, Exeter Township senior and Carpentry student, and Matthew Stana, Fleetwood Area senior and Masonry student. Bronze medals were presented to Philip Van Schaick, a Governor Mifflin senior and a Photo Imaging Technology student and Ty Kelius, an Automotive Technology student and a senior at Boyertown Area School District. Van Schaick received a $1,000 scholarship from the Pennsylvania College of Technology and Kelius was presented with scholarships from the Pennsylvania College of Technology and the Universal Technical Institute totaling $4,000.

SkillsUSA is a national organization serving over 264,000 high school and college students and professional members in training programs in technical, skilled, and service occupations, including health occupations. SkillsUSA has the active support of more than 1,000 corporations, trade associations, business and labor unions at the national level. Thousands more work with SkillsUSA at state and local association levels. Student membership in SkillsUSA offers leadership, citizenship, and character development programs and activities to complement skill training. Its programs help students prepare to go to work. SkillsUSA emphasizes respect for the dignity of work, high standards in trade ethics, workmanship, scholarship, and safety. It promotes understanding of the free enterprise system and encourages the development of patriotism through democratic practices in local chapters.

Berks Career and Technology Center, in partnership with its sponsoring districts, business and industry, and utilizing a system of continuous improvement, prepares secondary and adult students with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for gainful employment and further education.