Three Penn College Students Advance to SkillsUSA Nationals
Published 04.07.2005
Three students from Pennsylvania College of Technology brought home first-place medals in competition at this week's Pennsylvania SkillsUSA Conference in Lancaster, qualifying them to compete in the national SkillsUSA Championships in Kansas City, Mo., in June.
In all, nine of 13 Penn College competitors earned medals in the statewide competition, held at the Willow Valley Resort and Conference Center from April 4-6, including three second-place and three third-place finishes.
SkillsUSA 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: Raul Guzman, Teaneck, N.J., Auto Service Technician; Thomas A. Hendershot, Mill Hall, Internetworking; and Austin M. Upright, Montoursville, Technical Drafting.
Second-place finishers are: Nathanael W. Burkholder, Annville, Diesel Equipment Technician; Rebecca L. Spencer, Rossiter, Job Interview; and Jason Q.M. Carrasquillo, Birdsboro, Plumbing. Finishing third were: Steven R. Barley, Red Lion, Carpentry; Carl F. Gravely, Arona, Industrial Motor Control; and John D. Catanese II, Huntingdon RR 4, Residential Wiring.
Also competing for Penn College were: Daniel J. Zbegner, Lock Haven; Computer Maintenance Technician; Louis R. Ursitz Jr., McDonald, Heating-Ventilation-Air Conditioning; Nicholas J. Ensig, Levittown, Job Skills Demo "A;" and Daniel L. Epler, Palmyra, Precision Machining.
Faculty advisers for the Penn College SkillsUSA 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.
TheSkillsUSA nationals will be held June 20-24 in the H. Roe Bartle Hall and Municipal Auditorium, bringing together more than 4,000 competitors in nearly 80 events. Since 2000, 47 Penn College students have gone on to compete at the national level 14 of them returning as medalists.