Three OCM BOCES Students Place in State SkillsUSA Competition

Alexandra Puglisi

The New York State SkillsUSA competition, “Champions at Work,” recently took place at the New York State Fairgrounds. More than 2,000 Career and Technical Education (CTE) students from across New York State, including many from the OCM BOCES Henry Campus in Syracuse and McEvoy Educational Campus in Cortland, came together to compete in performance and written contests in areas such as culinary arts, cosmetology, construction and welding.

Three students from OCM BOCES earned medals in their individual competitions. Those students are:
Ryan McArdell (1st place in Automotive Refinishing) – Ryan is a senior OCM BOCES Automotive Collision Technology student from the Baldwinsville Central School District. By placing first, Ryan qualifies to compete in the National SkillsUSA competition.

Alexandra (Alex) Puglisi (2nd place in Commercial Baking) – Alex is a senior OCM BOCES Pastry Arts student from the Fayetteville-Manlius Central School District.

Christian Seyerle (3rd place in Criminal Justice) – Christian is a senior OCM BOCES Criminal Justice student from the Marathon Central School District.

SkillsUSA is a national organization serving high school and college students preparing for careers in technical and service occupations. The organization provides quality educational experiences for students in leadership, teamwork, citizenship and character development. SkillsUSA offers annual regional, state and national competitions through which CTE students vie against each other for the competition’s top honors, scholarships and prizes of tools for their trades.
Other students from OCM BOCES that competed in the New York State SkillsUSA competition are:

Anthony Allen, junior Culinary Arts student from the DeRuyter Central School District;

Richard Allen, senior Automotive Technology student from the North Syracuse Central School District;

Tim Bachner, senior Culinary Arts student from the North Syracuse Central School District;

Christine Beckhusen, junior Pastry Arts student from the North Syracuse Central School District;

Maya Bey, junior Cosmetology student from the Jamesville-DeWitt Central School District;

Shawn Bocyck, senior Laboratory Technology student from the Baldwinsville Central School District;

Nicole Bulles, senior Medical Professions student from the North Syracuse Central School District;

William (Buddy) Chasteen, junior Culinary Arts student from the Solvay Union Free School District;

Lacey Crane, junior Culinary Arts student from the Cincinnatus Central School District;

Ashley Dening, senior Graphic Communications student from the West Genesee Central School District;

Tyler Dennison, senior Automotive Technology student from the Cortland Enlarged City School District;

Kaitie Duguid, senior Laboratory Technology student from the Liverpool Central School District;

Mackenzie Edinger, senior Graphic Communications student from the Tully Central School District;

Sam Hall, senior Culinary Arts student from the Cortland Enlarged City School District;

Jessica Hosner, senior Culinary Arts student from the North Syracuse Central School District;

Megan Howard, junior Health Occupations Technology student from the Cortland Enlarged City School District;

Nikki Hunter, senior Early Childhood Education student from the West Genesee Central School District;

Shaun Lamphear, senior Medical Professions student from the Chittenango Central School District;

Sam Martin, senior Culinary Arts student from the North Syracuse Central School District;

Samantha McMahon, senior Graphic Communications Technology student from the Marathon Central School District;

Darian Meggesto, senior Medical Professions student from the West Genesee Central School District;

Alexa Mentel, junior Pastry Arts student from the Liverpool Central School District;

Brian Metzger, senior Pastry Arts student from the Liverpool Central School District;

Nick Nolan, senior Automotive Technology student from the Baldwinsville Central School District;

Darien Ostrander, junior Culinary Arts student from the Cortland Enlarged City School District;

Michelle Price, senior Culinary Arts student from the North Syracuse Central School District;

Kaia Reynolds, junior Automotive Technology student from the Baldwinsville Central School District;

Danaysia Rucker, junior Cosmetology student from the North Syracuse Central School District;

David VanSlyke, senior Computer Technology student from the Baldwinsville Central School District; and

Carlie Willson, junior Cosmetology student from the Jamesville-DeWitt Central School District.

Congratulations to all OCM BOCES students for a job well done!

For more information about OCM BOCES Career and Technical Education Programs, contact Robert Leslie at 315/431-8407.