SkillsUSA students from the DCMO BOCES Harrold Campus pose in front of the Horticulture Building on the New York State Fairgrounds last week. They were there for the NYS SkillsUSA Leadership and Skills Championships. (Submitted photo)

SYRACUSE – Last week, on Thursday, April 25, nearly 50 DCMO BOCES students from both Robert W. Harrold and Alan D. Pole Campuses arrived in Syracuse for the NYS SkillsUSA Leadership and Skills Championships, held at the New York State Fairgrounds.

They and their advisors joined thousands of other student competitors from across the state for two days of skills evaluation, presentations, and leadership activities. The event is supported by hundreds of industry and education partners from across the state, who served as industry advisory members, contest chairs and judges for the skills contests.

Competitions were held in over 80 trade areas, from Automotive Technology to Welding. Students spent Thursday morning demonstrating their skills and abilities in challenging competitions, spread across four large buildings on the fairgrounds. All the competitors were members of a SkillsUSA Chapter at their school, and they were accompanied to Syracuse by their advisors.

This statewide competition is the last step in months of preparation, practice and regional competitions before the SkillsUSA National Competition, to be held June 24-28, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. Top finishers in each category at the state competition will be eligible to compete at the Nationals.

Three students from DCMO BOCES Pole Campus earned medals at last week’s event. Kristofer Laymon, Unadilla Valley Central School, and David Ferreira, Oxford Academy and Central School earned a Bronze Award in the Interactive Application Team competition. Justina Parsons, Greene Central School, earned the top award in the Welding Sculpture category. She received a new welding helmet, and will advance to the national competition in June.

The Harrold Campus SkillsUSA Chapter was also recognized with an award for Chapter Excellence.

SkillsUSA is a national workforce development organization for students, operating in thousands of chapters in schools across the country. Founded in 1965 to help address the ongoing skills gap, SkillsUSA seeks to empower students to become skilled professionals, career-ready leaders and responsible community members.

DCMO BOCES has chapters at both campuses, supported by advisors Jeanni Romanowski, Erin Engle-Thomas, Heidi Ruff, Nanette LaTourette and Ann French.

DCMO BOCES is a regional provider of educational services to students and schools, and operates school campuses in Sidney Center and Norwich. To find out more about their services and probrams, visit www.dcmoboces. com

- Information from DCMO BOCES