Twenty From College to Vie at State SkillsUSA-VICA Conference
Wednesday, February 20, 2002
Twenty students from Pennsylvania College of Technology will compete for statewide honors at the Pennsylvania SkillsUSA-VICA Conference, to be held April 17-19 in Altoona.
Twelve of the students registered first-place finishes at the SkillsUSA-VICA District 6 Skills Competition, held Feb. 15 at Penn College. Eight other Penn College students were entered in skill categories that had no district-level competitions. They earned "byes" and will also compete at the state conference.
Winners at the state conference are eligible to compete at the SkillsUSA Championships a showcase for the best career and technical students in the nation - to be held June 27 in Kansas City, Mo.
Penn College students finishing first at the district competition (and their competition categories) are: Jeremy S. Kunkel, Kutztown, Architectural Drafting; Raul Guzman, Teaneck, N.J., Auto Service Technology; Jeremy C. Rice, Landisburg, Carpentry; Ryan Garner, Spring City, Collision Repair; Jason I. Garrett, Cleona, Culinary Arts; Christopher C. Clugston, Slatington, Electronics Applications; Bruce A. Stephens, Curwensville, Electronics Technology; Aaron T. Giovanni, Nazareth, Masonry; Nicholas J. Ensig, Levittown, Residential Plumbing; William J. Frick, Westline, Precision Machining; Joshua W. Hunsberger, Pottstown, Technical Drafting; and James N. Colton, Canton, Welding.
Three Penn College students who earned byes are competing as a team in Automated Manufacturing Technology. They are: Christopher B. Israel, New Bloomfield; Colin G. McGrath, Warren; and Brent K. Oberholtzer, Elizabethtown.
The Penn College students earning byes for individual competitions at the district level are: Mark A. Kuhns, Millmont, Diesel Technology; Jennifer R. Brinkley, Worthington, Extemporaneous Speaking; Ronnie L. Kiefer,Millville, Nurse Assisting; Jamie G. Houseknecht, Benton, Principles of Technology; and Michael A. Bigelow, Altoona, Related Technical Math.
The advisers for the Penn College SkillsUSA-VICA student competitors are Edward L. Roadarmel, assistant professor of drafting and CAD technology; Dale J. Kissinger Jr., instructor of HVAC technology/plumbing and heating; and Larry B. Leavitt, associate professor of automotive technology.
SkillsUSA-VICA is a national organization serving 250,000 high-school and college students and professional members in training programs for technical, skilled, health and service occupations.