Eleven Penn College Students Advance to SkillsUSA Nationals
Thursday, May 10, 2012
On the basis of stellar performances in recent state competition, 11 Pennsylvania College of Technology students are bound for the National SkillsUSA Conference from June 23-28 in Kansas City, Mo.
Winning first-place honors at April’s SkillsUSA Pennsylvania Leadership and Skills Conference in the Hershey Convention Center – and the right to represent the college in national competition – were Adam J. Becker, Northampton, who competed in Precision Machining; Robert T. Berrier Jr., Lewistown, Technical Drafting; Owen R. Boyle, Bloomsbury, N.J.; Collision Repair; Kevin E. Brookhart, Liverpool, Diesel Equipment Technology; Joseph DiBlasio III, Moorestown, N.J., Auto Service Technology; Aaron C. Dressler, Mount Pleasant Mills, Auto Refinishing; Micah E. Hoover, Souderton, Welding; Charles B. Livezey Jr., Solebury, Residential Wiring; Lewis D. Robinson, Bellefonte, Culinary Arts; and Jennifer R. Seifert, Williamsport, Plumbing.
They will be joined at nationals by Douglas R. Phillips, Southampton, who already advanced in Aviation Technology. (There is no such category in state SkillsUSA competition, so Penn College annually holds its own qualifying event on Career Day.)
Three of this year's returnees – Dressler, Hoover and Robinson – were medalists in national competition in 2011; Boyle, Livezey and Seifert also are making a second consecutive trip to Kansas City.
"It’s a great feeling to be a returning competitor at the national level, not only because it proves that we can consistently perform under pressure, but do so with great workmanship," Hoover said. "It’s also a very comforting situation to be in; all of the first-time jitters are gone. We know what to expect and how to prepare for the competition. All that’s left to do this time is head out there, do exactly what we’ve been trained to do and bring the gold back to Penn College."
This year's entrants bring to 98 the number of Penn College students who have advanced to national competition over the years; 27 won medals at that level.
Placing second in their respective categories in state competition for the college were Zachary R. Baylor, Danville, Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning; and Douglas Page, Mineral Point, Carpentry.
The group is co-advised by Edward L. Roadarmel, assistant professor of drafting and computer aided design; Larry B. Leavitt, associate professor of automotive technology; and Roy A. Klinger, instructor of automotive technology.
Winning first-place honors at April’s SkillsUSA Pennsylvania Leadership and Skills Conference in the Hershey Convention Center – and the right to represent the college in national competition – were Adam J. Becker, Northampton, who competed in Precision Machining; Robert T. Berrier Jr., Lewistown, Technical Drafting; Owen R. Boyle, Bloomsbury, N.J.; Collision Repair; Kevin E. Brookhart, Liverpool, Diesel Equipment Technology; Joseph DiBlasio III, Moorestown, N.J., Auto Service Technology; Aaron C. Dressler, Mount Pleasant Mills, Auto Refinishing; Micah E. Hoover, Souderton, Welding; Charles B. Livezey Jr., Solebury, Residential Wiring; Lewis D. Robinson, Bellefonte, Culinary Arts; and Jennifer R. Seifert, Williamsport, Plumbing.
They will be joined at nationals by Douglas R. Phillips, Southampton, who already advanced in Aviation Technology. (There is no such category in state SkillsUSA competition, so Penn College annually holds its own qualifying event on Career Day.)
Three of this year's returnees – Dressler, Hoover and Robinson – were medalists in national competition in 2011; Boyle, Livezey and Seifert also are making a second consecutive trip to Kansas City.
"It’s a great feeling to be a returning competitor at the national level, not only because it proves that we can consistently perform under pressure, but do so with great workmanship," Hoover said. "It’s also a very comforting situation to be in; all of the first-time jitters are gone. We know what to expect and how to prepare for the competition. All that’s left to do this time is head out there, do exactly what we’ve been trained to do and bring the gold back to Penn College."
This year's entrants bring to 98 the number of Penn College students who have advanced to national competition over the years; 27 won medals at that level.
Placing second in their respective categories in state competition for the college were Zachary R. Baylor, Danville, Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning; and Douglas Page, Mineral Point, Carpentry.
The group is co-advised by Edward L. Roadarmel, assistant professor of drafting and computer aided design; Larry B. Leavitt, associate professor of automotive technology; and Roy A. Klinger, instructor of automotive technology.