BVT Students Put Skills to the Test, Come Home with 82 Medals

82 medals won at SkillsUSA competition
 
In a tremendous display of vocational technical prowess, students at Blackstone Valley Tech won 82 medals and swept eight categories at the recent SkillsUSA Massachusetts District V conference. 
 
Held on March 11 at Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School in Charlton, the District V conference featured competition among nearly 800 hundred vocational technical students from seven schools. Blackstone Valley Tech students earned 32 gold, 28 silver, and 22 bronze medals, including sweeps in the categories of Culinary Arts, Diesel Equipment Technology, Internetworking, Medical Terminology, Photography, Restaurant Service, Telecommunications Cabling, and Welding. In the annual SkillsUSA student-elections, Valley Tech Health Services sophomore Stacey Muanya of Milford qualified to run for the position of State Officer on the SkillsUSA Massachusetts State Executive Council.
 
Following their strong performance at the District V competition, more than 60 Valley Tech students will advance to the Massachusetts SkillsUSA Championships being held at BVT on May 1. Gold medals winners at the statewide competition will move on to the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference Championships scheduled for June 22-26 in Louisville, KY. Last year, 17 Valley Tech students competed in the national event and earned a total of 11 medals, including four gold, five silver, and two bronze medals.
 
Often referred to as the Olympics of vocational technical education, the annual SkillsUSA competitions allow Valley Tech students to showcase their vocational technical skills to local, statewide, and national audiences. According to Superintendent-Director Dr. Michael Fitzpatrick, the students' continued success on such a prominent stage sends a strong message to Valley Tech stakeholders. 
 
"The career technical skills utilized in SkillsUSA exemplify the very rigor and relevance that Governor Charlie Baker referenced when he highlighted our system," Fitzpatrick commented. "Much like graduate placement and alumni success stories, SkillsUSA provides further evidence that Valley Tech is delivering a quality vocational technical education."
 
The following Valley Tech students were among the school's 82 medalists at the District V SkillsUSA competition:
 
Bellingham
GOLD: Connor Marquez, Digital Cinema Production; Kevin Kennedy, HVAC; Rachel DeWolfe, Photography; Suzanne Wright, Technical Computer Applications.
 
SILVER: Sarah Boisvert, Health Knowledge Bowl; Shea Boultenhouse, Restaurant Service; Jeremy Chamberlain, Digital Cinema Production.
 
Blackstone
GOLD: Andrew Bissonnette, Telecommunications Cabling; Kaylee Marcus, Cosmetology Under 500 Hours.
 
SILVER: Zach Marcus, Carpentry; Delia O'Toole, Digital Cinema Production; Mackenzie Varieur, Medical Math.
 
BRONZE: Abner de Freitas, HVAC; Devin Roy, Automotive Refinishing Technology.
 
Douglas
GOLD: Ricky Gonzalez, Automotive Refinishing Technology; Althea Smith, Digital Cinema Production; Brett Yoder, Mobile Robotics.
 
SILVER: Jordan Ayotte, Health Knowledge Bowl.
 
BRONZE: Benjamin Aube, 3-D Visualization & Animation; Evan LeBeau, Advertising Design; Joseph Skowronski, Mobile Robotics; Jacob Masi, Photography; Lydia LaBonte, Team Works.
 
Grafton
SILVER: Brian Barthelmes, Telecommunications Cabling.
 
BRONZE: Molly Fritchey, Medical Terminology.
 
Hopedale
GOLD: Brittany Firth, Cosmetology Over 500 Hours.

SILVER: James Symmes, Internetworking.
 
Mendon
GOLD: Matt Gormley, Commercial Baking; Eric Peterson, Mobile Robotics.
 
SILVER: Jonathan Lynch, Urban Search & Rescue; Francesca Niro, Basic Health Care Skills.
 
BRONZE: Julie Cavanaugh, Team Works; Jonathan Rivernider, Internetworking.
 
Milford
GOLD: Owen Amour, Internetworking; Dylan Phaneuf, Collision Repair Technology; Karina Ramos, Nurse Assisting.
 
SILVER: Paul Facey, Cabinetmaking; Madeline Phillips, Cosmetology Over 500 Hours.
 
BRONZE: Ulisses Ramirez, Architectural Drafting.
 
STUDENT ELECTION: Stacey Muanya, Nominee for SkillsUSA Massachusetts State Executive Council.
 
Millbury
GOLD: Adam Burdzel, Automotive Service Technology; Rebecca Rose, Restaurant Service; Will Stevens, Computer Programming.
 
SILVER: Chantel Gaboriault, Culinary Arts; Brittney Hjort, Commercial Baking.
 
BRONZE: Rachelle Boudreau, Team Works; Justin Duclos, 3-D Visualization & Animation.
 
Millville
GOLD: Bryan Desrosiers, Robotics & Automation Tech.
 
BRONZE: Michael Homand, Electrical Construction Wiring.
 
Northbridge
GOLD: Dillon Arnold, Urban Search & Rescue; Jacob O'Donnell, Technical Drafting.
 
SILVER: Rachel Arnold, Urban Search & Rescue; Jessica Carneiro, Health Knowledge Bowl; Samantha Fields, Nurse Assisting; David Maas, Information Technology Service; Randi Ouillette, Health Knowledge Bowl; Kayleigh Poudrier, Medical Terminology.
 
BRONZE: Nathan Lamberson, Mobile Robotics.
 
Southbridge
SILVER: Sonia Thaker, Practical Nursing (post-secondary).
 
Sutton
GOLD: Eric Carkin, Electronics Technology; Lauren Mahoney, Culinary Arts; Todd Mahoney, Welding; Marc Peladeau, Welding Sculpture.
 
BRONZE: Brianna McMullan, Team Works.
 
Upton
GOLD: Anthony Arrigo, Urban Search & Rescue; Alexia DeDeus, Dental Assisting; Jessica Goyer, Practical Nursing (post-secondary); Brett May, Diesel Equipment Technology.
 
SILVER: Parker Grant, Electronics Technology; Kevin Konieczny, Welding; Josh Renfro, Diesel Equipment Technology; Tyler Smith, Robotics & Automation Tech.
 
BRONZE: Bailey Martin, Diesel Equipment Technology; Taylor Nasuti, Restaurant Service; Gregory Renk, Welding.
 
Uxbridge
GOLD: Meghan Wills, Medical Terminology; Connor Dailey, Plumbing; Steven Alger, Robotics & Automation Tech.
 
SILVER: Callie Bucchino, Photography; Christopher Lira, Robotics & Automation Tech.
 
BRONZE: Alexander Bianco, Telecommunications Cabling; Kellen Kearnan, Culinary Arts; John Piotrowski, Cabinetmaking.
 
Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School serves the towns of Bellingham, Blackstone, Douglas, Grafton, Hopedale, Mendon, Milford, Millbury, Millville, Northbridge, Sutton, Upton and Uxbridge. Located in the heart of the Blackstone Valley, Blackstone Valley Tech creates a positive learning community that prepares students for personal and professional success in an internationally competitive society through a fusion of vigorous vocational, technical, and academic skills. The school’s website is www.valleytech.k12.ma.us.