Students put skills to test, return with the gold

Nicole Boucher
Posted 4/2/15

Students from the Warwick Area Career & Technical Center brought home 15 gold medals from the state’s SkillsUSA competition – more gold than any other school or center in the state.

Throughout …

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Students put skills to test, return with the gold

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Students from the Warwick Area Career & Technical Center brought home 15 gold medals from the state’s SkillsUSA competition – more gold than any other school or center in the state.

Throughout March, students competed in events that ranged from architectural drafting to culinary arts. On March 23, awards were given to those students from the Career Center who placed or won in 17 of the 28 events. In total, center students won 15 gold medals, seven silver medals and seven bronze medals.

William McCaffrey, center director, attributed the success to “the dedication of the students and faculty.” From the local center there were 104 registered competitors. The total number of competitors was 860, coming from 15 schools and career and tech centers in Rhode Island.

The competition gives students the opportunity to display skills they’ve learned. The events also help to increase confidence for the students and can provide access to scholarships in certain fields. Participants do not just complete written tests but put their knowledge to practical use when faced with tasks that must be completed in a specified amount of time before results are judged.

Students who participate in the architectural drafting event, for example, were presented with an architectural problem. They used their skills to create a draft displaying the solution. Not every event is limited to just one field or individual participation, either. Those taking part in the Teamworks event are given blueprints, and students with knowledge of carpentry, masonry, electrical and plumbing skills work together to build a structure that matches the blueprints.

The goal of SkillsUSA is to provide support for students training and preparing to begin careers in a large variety of occupations. Competitions are held locally and at statewide levels, with events that can be in dozens of skilled areas. Winners from the state competitions proceed on to the national SkillsUSA Championship on June 21 in Louisville, Kentucky.

To support the winners’ trip to the championship, a breakfast fundraiser will be held at Dave’s Bar & Grille on April 11 for $10 per person, and a golf tournament at Cranston Country Club will take place on May 30 for $125 per person.

Gold medal winners are: Brendan Thorton, Architectural Drafting; Joel Cullen, Automotive Service Technology; Matthew Lamarsh, Carpentry; Charles Fogell, Computer Inter-Networking Technology; Joseph Burgio, Computer Maintenance; Brian Lagergren, Marine Technology; Courtney McCafferty, Esthetics; Megan Massey, Esthetics (Model); Celina Carreiro, Nurse Assisting; Nicholas Horne, Teamworks; Jacob Mossman, Teamworks; Derek Penta, Teamworks; Sean Vittum, Teamworks; Jason Valdes, Technical Drafting and Makenzie Driscoll, Cosmetology.

Silver medal winners are: John Vincent, Architectural Drafting; Katelyn Ellinwood, Basic Health Care; Sean Blackmer, Computer Inter-Networking; Marissa Perreault, Job Skill Open; Cameron Lefebvre, Technical Drafting; Katie Morrison, Esthetics and Adrianna Courtney, Esthetics (Model).

Bronze medal winners are: Alyson Kaye, Advertising Design; Jonathan Provencal, Architectural Drafting; Keishla Maysonet, Basic Health Care; Ian Cullen, Cabinetmaking; Jordan Duffy, Medical Math; Morgan Murphy, T-Shirt Design and Tristen Lambert, Computer Inter-Networking. 

Isabelle Pare is the chosen state officer. Pins were designed by Alyson Kaye, Judges Pin and Caitlyn MacNeil, State Pin.

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