SkillsUSA Pennsylvania 2007 Conference

On Wednesday morning, twelve Williamson students left campus to attend the SkillsUSA Pennsylvania 2007 Conference to be held at Lehigh Career and Technical Institute in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania. These students have proven their abilities in both local and district competitions. This is the third and final step on the way to the SkillsUSA National Competition in June.

The SkillsUSA Championship is the showcase for the best career and technical students in the nation. Contests begin locally and continue through the state and national levels.This is a multi-million dollar event that occupies a space equivalent to 12 football fields hosting approximately 4,800 contestants in 84 separate events. Nearly 1,500 judges and contest organizers from labor and management make the national event possible.

The philosophy of the Championships is to reward students for excellence, to involve industry in directly evaluating student performance and to keep training relevant to employers' needs.Williamson students have placed nationally each year since the School began participating in the events, setting records for various extraordinary accomplishments.

The following students have advanced to the next level and are currently participating in the competition:

• Machine Shop: Shawn Scott, Fran Sellitto, Jason Bateman, and Ben Carter
• Carpentry: Mike Eroh, Gerald Schneider
• Masonry: Mike Wagner, George Phillips
• Power Plant: Kevin Hatch, Zachary Skibiel, Buck Harper, and James Baird

UPDATE - The results are in! Williamson students excelled in the competition and received the following awards:

• Carpentry - GOLD
• Masonry - GOLD
• Automation Machine Technology - GOLD
• Machine Tool Technology - GOLD
• Team Work - GOLD
• Residential Wiring - BRONZE

Thanks to the following faculty for making SkillsUSA possible: Dan Hiltebeitel, Masonry; Ken Nelson, Carpentry; Jim Schell, Power Plant Technology and Carmen Martella, Machine Tool Technology

CLICK HERE to learn more about SkillsUSA.