O/N BOCES students win awards at National SkillsUSA Competition

Provided photos: Anthony Cercone (Lockport) celebrates receiving his gold medal in the CNC 3-Axis Milling Competition.

Press Release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES

MEDINA – SkillsUSA students from Orleans/Niagara BOCES brought home five medals from the National SkillsUSA Leadership and Skills Championship in Atlanta, Georgia!

The career competition events showcased the most accomplished career and technical education students in the nation. Students advanced through competitions at the local and state levels with state winners going on the national stage. The winners were announced Friday.

Congratulations go to:

• Gold medalist: Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering program’s Anthony Cercone (Lockport/Orleans Career and Technical Education Center) in the CNC 3-Axis Milling Competition. His teacher is Bill Rakonczay.

Lydia Samson

• Silver medalist: Health Occupations Technician program’s Lydia Samson (Barker/Orleans Career and Technical Education Center) who brought home silver in the Basic Health Care Competition. Her teacher is Courtney Slack.

• Silver medalist: Electricity/Electronics program’s Zachary Luick (Lockport/Orleans Career and Technical Education Center) in the Electronic Technology Competition. His teacher is Bill Leggett.

• Silver medalist: Project Based Engineering program’s Robert Dutton (Lewiston-Porter/Niagara Career and Technical Education Center), Jarod Gajewski (Wilson/Niagara Career and Technical Education Center) and Brian Zatkos (Niagara Wheatfield/Niagara Career and Technical Education Center) in Engineering Technology Design Team Competition. Their teacher is Scott Brauer.

Nathaniel Wolf

• Bronze medalist: Computer Technology program’s Nathaniel Wolf (Royalton-Hartland/Orleans Career and Technology Center) in the Internet of Things Competition. His teacher is Paul Herrmann.

“We are extremely proud of the accomplishments of these students and the instructional staff who have worked with them,” said Dr. Michael Weyrauch, director of Adult Education, CTE & Instructional Services at O/N BOCES. “To be given an opportunity to showcase one’s passion and determination in a career field of their choosing is what Career & Technical Education (CTE) is all about. O/N BOCES is pleased to have been a part of these students’ amazing journey and wish them the very best with what’s next in their futures. Congratulations to all!”