BERKS STUDENTS BRING HOME THE GOLD, SILVER, AND BRONZE AND MORE THAN $50,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS FROM STATE COMPETITION

The Pennsylvania Association of SkillsUSA held its annual state leadership conference on April 4-6, 2005, at the Willow Valley Resort in Lancaster and the Berks Career and Technology Center’s Leesport and Oley campuses. Approximately 2,000 students from across the commonwealth, including 25 students from the Berks Career and Technology Center, had the opportunity to compete in the statewide event. Four gold, two sliver, and two bronze medals were awarded to BCTC students with four students qualifying to represent the Career Center in Kansas City, Missouri at the 2005 SkillsUSA National Skills Leadership Conference in June.

Bradley Hettinger, an Automotive Technology student at BCTC’s West Campus and a Governor Mifflin senior took first place honors in the category of auto service technology. Bradley received $24,000 in scholarship monies from Pennsylvania College of Technology, Northwestern University of Ohio, New England Institute of Technology, Nashville Auto Diesel College, and Baran Institute of Technology.

Three students at BCTC’s East Campus also achieved first place standings and will compete at the national level in June. Curtis Brown, a Twin Valley senior enrolled in Building Construction Occupations competed in the building maintenance technology event and was awarded $4,500 in scholarships from Pennsylvania College of Technology and the New England Institute of Technology.
Oley Valley senior, Joseph Giangiacomo a student in the Cabinetmaking program received $4,500 in scholarships from Pennsylvania College of Technology and New England Institute of Technology for his first place win in the cabinetmaking competition. Scott Eckert, a student in BCTC’s Electrical Occupations program and a junior at Daniel Boone Area School District placed first in the Principles of Technology event and was awarded a $2,000 scholarship to the New England Institute of Technology. They will travel to Kansas City, Missouri June 20-24 for the 40th annual national conference.

BCTC students also took silver in the auto service specialization and commercial baking events. James Shupp, a senior at Governor Mifflin School District and a student in the Automotive Technology program at the West Campus took second place and received $5,500 in scholarships from Pennsylvania College of Technology and Northwestern University of Ohio. Hamburg Area senior, Jenna Bailey, placed second in the commercial baking event winning $4,000 in scholarships to the Culinary Institute of America and the Connecticut Institute of Culinary Arts.

BCTC students also placed third in dental assisting and collision repair technology. Bronze medal winners were Heidi Kuser, Brandywine Heights Area junior and Dental Occupations student, and Brian Wayne Mack, Boyertown Area senior and Automotive Collision Repair Technology student at the East Campus. Kuser received a $1,000 scholarship from Pennsylvania College of Technology, and Mack received $7,000 in scholarships from Pennsylvania College of Technology, Baran Institute of Technology, New England Institute of Technology, and Nashville Auto Diesel College.

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.

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