Six Penn College Students Qualify for National SkillsUSA Competition

Published 04.06.2009

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Six Pennsylvania College of Technology students representing a majority of the college's eight academic schools earned first-place honors at the recent SkillsUSA Pennsylvania Leadership and Skills Conference, making them eligible for national competition June 21-26 in Kansas City, Mo.

The gold medalists were among the 15 Penn College competitors who placed in the statewide vocational event, which was held April 1-3 at the Hershey Convention Center. Six students placed second including a three-member entry in the Automated Manufacturing Technology category and three others finished third.

Penn College's first-place winners, their hometowns and their categories of competition are Thomas P. Bendzsuk, Pittsburgh, Automotive Refinishing; Linh H. Do, Williamsport, Aviation; Annie M. Kinney, Milton, Commercial Baking; Nathan G. Myers, Colver, Welding Technology; Brett R. Potteiger, Wernersville, Diesel Equipment Technology; and Thomas S. Rafferty, Waterford, Conn., Carpentry.

Winning silver medals in the Automated Manufacturing Technology category was the team of Robert W. Brobst, Salisbury, Md., David M. Huston, Greensburg; and Michael A. Love, East Petersburg. Other second-place winners were Nicholas R. Rieber, Harrisburg, Automotive Services Technology; Nathan A. Ritter, Middleburg, Precision Machining Technology; and Matthew D. Romanowski, Harrisburg, Masonry.

Placing third were Amy E. Lizee, Lititz, Food and Beverage Services; Gregory J. Miller, Easton, Plumbing; and Barry T. West, Falmouth, Va., Architecture/Drafting.

Also competing at the state level were Zachary R. Bahr, Bensalem, Residential Wiring; Rebecca E. Deist, Manheim, Job Skill Demonstration; Matthew R. Fahnestock, Swedesboro, N.J.; Technical Drafting; Ashley N. King, Williamsport, Culinary Arts; and Ashley R. Wingate, Watsontown, Nurse Assisting.

Faculty advisers for the college's student competitors are Edward L. Roadarmel, assistant professor of drafting and computer aided design; Dale J. Kissinger Jr., assistant professor of HVAC technology/plumbing and heating; and Larry B. Leavitt, associate professor of automotive technology.

This year's competitors bring to 70 the number of Penn College representatives that have advanced to the national level over the years; 21 of them returned as medalists.

Formerly known as the Vocational Industrial Clubs of America, SkillsUSA is a national organization serving more than 300,000 teachers and high school and college students preparing for careers in technical, skilled and service occupations.

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