Four Penn College Students Advance to SkillsUSA Nationals

Four Pennsylvania College of Technology students earned gold medals in this month's competition at the Pennsylvania SkillsUSA Conference in Lancaster, qualifying them for national competition in Kansas City, Mo., in June.

Nine of 17 Penn College competitors brought home medals in the statewide competition, which was held March 13-15 at the Willow Valley Resort and Conference Center. Two students placed second, and three others returned with third-place medals.

SkillsUSA is a national nonprofit organization serving 280,000 teachers and high school and college students who are preparing for trade, technical and skilled service occupations, including health careers.

The college's first-place winners are: Matthew A. Lamberti, Centerreach, N.Y., who competed in Carpentry; Thomas A. Hendershot, Mill Hall, Internetworking; Daniel D. Graybill, Hanover, Job Skill Demo A; and Matthew A. Treaster, Yeagertown, Technical Drafting.

Carl F. Gravely, Arona, Industrial Motor Control; and Andrew J. Rosenbaum, Stoystown, Residential Wiring, placed second.

Third-place finishers were Adam C. Burke, Villa Hills, Ky., Cabinetmaking; Micah J. Benshoff, Millville, Automotive Collision Repair; and Annie M. Kinney, Milton, Commercial Baking.

Also competing for Penn College were Christina L. Robidoux, Williamsport; Prepared Speech; Joshua W. Brunk, Richmond, N.H., Action Skills Demo; Timothy J. Burger, Drums, Plumbing; Justin M. Cohen, Livingston, N.J., Automotive Service Technology; Nathan M. Dwyer, Corning, N.Y., who placed fourth in Precision Machining; Jacob F. Radwanski, Johnstown, HVAC; Christopher B. Shirley, Indiana, Masonry; and Rebecca L. Spencer, Rossiter; Baking and Pastry Arts.

Faculty advisers for the college's student competitors were 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.

The SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference, featuring more than 4,600 competitors in 80 events, will be held June 18-24. Since 2000, 50 Penn College students have gone on to compete at that level, 15 of them returning as medalists.

For more information about Penn College, call toll-free (800) 367-9222 or visit online.