Nine From Penn College Advance to National VICA Competition
Published 04.12.2004
Nine students from Pennsylvania College of Technology brought home first-place medals in competition at the recent Pennsylvania SkillsUSA-VICA Conference in Pittsburgh, making them eligible to compete in the national SkillsUSA Championships in Kansas City, Mo., in June.
In all, 21 of the 22 Penn College competitors earned medals in the statewide competition held at the A.W. Beattie Area Vocational-Technical School and the Pittsburgh Hilton from April 5-7, including eight second-place and three third-place finishes.
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.
The Penn College first-place finishers and their competition categories are: Matthew E. Reiff, Warren, Welding; Jeremy D. Dille, Industry, HVAC; Jennifer R. Brinkley, Worthington, Extemporaneous Speaking; Matthew R. Smith, Hampstead, Md., Diesel Equipment Technician; Raul Guzman, Teaneck, N.J., Auto Service Technician; Michael D. Powell, Gansevoort, N.Y., Architectural Drafting; and Christopher B. Israel, New Bloomfield, William A. Peck, McVeytown, and John K. Russ, Waynesboro, Automated Manufacturing.
Second-place finishers are: Daniel L. Epler, Palmyra, Precision Machining Technology; Jason Q. Carrasquillo, Birdsboro, Plumbing; Ryan C. Buttorff, Jersey Shore, Masonry; Jeffrey S. Turner, Northumberland, Carpentry; and David S. Atkinson, State College, Nathan D. Kessler, Turbotville, David G. Mazaika, McAdoo, and Joseph P. Roque, Throop, Team Works.
Third-place finishers are: Joshua W. Hunsberger, Pottstown, Technical Drafting; John D. Catanese 2nd, Huntingdon, Residential Wiring; and Thomas A. Hendershot, Mill Hall, Internet Working.
In addition, Nicholas J. Ensig, Levittown, placed 11th in Job Skill Demo "A."
Faculty 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.