Education

Ulster County Students Place in State Competition

Jun 15, 2022

Ulster BOCES SkillsUSA members pause for a "photo opp" recently at the 2022 SkillsUSA State Conference. Pictured from l to r: Cosmetology student Hannah Hunt, Rondout Valley Central School District; Advanced Robotics & Manufacturing student Jaco Kraft, Kingston City School District; Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning student Eric Oakley, Rondout Valley Central School District; Cosmetology student Campbell Curcio, Kingston City School District; Cisco & Cybersecurity student Tony Llanio, Kingston City School District; Electrical Construction & Maintenance student Justin VanLeeuwen, Wallkill Central School District; Ulster BOCES Cisco & Cybersecurity student Brayden O'Connor, Rondout Valley Central School District; Health Occupations Exploration student Shyanne Halwick, Kingston City School District; and Michelle Bautista-Sanchez, Kingston City School District.

PORT EWEN — Twenty-nine Ulster BOCES Career & Technical Center students competed in timed trade, leadership, and community service contests during the 2022 SkillsUSA State Conference, held in Syracuse this spring.

Two students came in first place in the community action category, three came in second in the community service category, two came in second place in their trade category, and one student took third place in his trade category. The first-place students are both from the Rondout Valley Central School District.

Ulster BOCES Cisco & Cybersecurity students (l to r): Michael Lamaruggine and Brayden O'Connor, both from the Rondout Valley Central School District, proudly accept their medals at the 2022 SkillsUSA State Conference. The young professionals placed first in the Community Action category. — Ulster BOCES Cisco & Cybersecurity students (l to r): Michael Lamaruggine and Brayden O’Connor, both from the Rondout Valley Central School District, proudly accept their medals at the 2022 SkillsUSA State Conference. The young professionals placed first in the Community Action category.

The SkillsUSA Chapter at Ulster BOCES was also awarded the 2022 Presidential Volunteer Service Award at the Silver Level. However, the young professionals weren’t the only ones to receive honors at the event. Chapter 4 Advisor and Cosmetology teacher Kate Weston was named the New York State Chapter of Excellence Silver Award recipient.

First Place:
● Michael Lamaruggine, Cisco & Cybersecurity student from the Rondout Valley Central School District, placed first in the Community Action category.
● Brayden O’Connor, a Cisco & Cybersecurity student from the Rondout Valley Central School District, placed first in the Community Action category.

Second Place:
● Arielle Cruz, a Cosmetology student from the Wallkill Central School District, placed second in the Community Service category.
● Campbell Curcio, a Cosmetology student from the Kingston City School District, placed second in the Community Service category.
● ShyanneHalwick, a Health Occupations Exploration Program student from the Kingston City School District, placed second in the Community Service category.
● Jaco Kraft, a Robotics & Advanced Manufacturing student from the Kingston City School District, placed second in the Technical Drafting category.
● Justin VanLeeuwen, an Electrical Construction & Maintenance student from the Wallkill Central School District, placed second in the Electrical Construction Wiring category.

Ulster BOCES Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning student Eric Oakley, from the Rondout Central School District, receives his medal at the 2022 SkillsUSA State Conference for placing third in the Hydronic Heating category.

Third Place:
● Eric Oakley, a Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning student from the Rondout Valley Central School District, placed third in the Hydronic Heating category.