Seventy-Six Ocean County Vocational Technical School (OCVTS) students competed at the New Jersey SkillsUSA Championships which took place Saturdays in April in Gloucester, Sussex and Somerset Counties, New Jersey. SkillsUSA is a national organization which provides quality educational experiences for students in leadership, teamwork, citizenship and character development.

The students competed in over 33 different career-skills events against other high school and post-secondary students from all regions of New Jersey. The Awards Ceremony was held virtually on Sunday April 10, 2022, when Saturday’s winners were announced as well as finalists in events held earlier in 2022. OCVTS students received an astounding 30 medals overall; 12 gold, 7 silver and 11 bronze.

Many of the gold medal winners are now eligible to advance to the 58th Annual SkillsUSA National Competition/Conference which will be held in Atlanta, Georgia at the end of June. As per the official website, skillsusa.org, the Conference is a ‘showcase of career and technical education students. More than 12,000 people – including students, teachers and business partners – are expected to participate in the weeklong event.’ Besides the actual competitions, students participate in individual, group and interactive leadership training activities. More than 6,500 career and technical education students, all state contest winners, will compete hands-on in 108 different trade, technical and leadership fields. The week’s events culminate with the Awards Ceremony, where many of the nation’s top finishers will receive scholarships, tools, computers or other prizes related to their career fields in additional to their medals and national recognition.

GOLD MEDAL WINNERS, THEIR PROGRAMS OF STUDY AND HOMETOWN (PS refers to adult students): Jason Gajewski (PS) Computer Science, Brick; Conner Cadena, Law & Public Safety, Little Egg Harbor: Sarahy Gaspar, Law & Public Safety, Manchester; April Kisthardt, Law & Public Safety, Cream Ridge; Anna Maher, Law & Public Safety, Forked River; Diana Slavich, Law & Public Safety, Jackson; Nathale Morales, Law & Public Safety, Lanoka Harbor; Emily Wilczek, Law & Public Safety, Forked River; Michaelangelo Santiago (PS), Health & Fitness, Forked River; Matthew McWeeney, MATES, Forked River; Antoni Castaldi, Computer Science, Waretown; and Aidan Michaels, Computer Science, Toms River.

SILVER MEDAL WINNERS, THEIR PROGRAMS OF STUDY AND HOMETOWN:
Abigail Szuba, Culinary, Brick; Sara Rafferty, Law & Public Safety, Forked River; Thea Merritt,
Design & Visual Communications, Point Pleasant; Evelin Sacramento Rea (PS), Cosmetology, Toms River;
Kayla Cole, Cosmetology, Toms River; Khai Nguyen, Building Construction Technology, New Egypt and Wyatt Salberg, Health & Fitness, Toms River.

BRONZE MEDAL WINNERS, THEIR PROGRAMS OF STUDY AND HOMETOWN:
Patrick Borkowski (PS) Building Construction Technology, Jackson; Marco Ferreira, Computer Science, Toms River; Ashley Orengo, Cosmetology, Toms River; Sarah Rivera, Cosmetology, Toms River;
Kara Laycock (PS), Design and Visual Communications, Lakehurst; Kylee Riccardo, Cosmetology, Little Egg Harbor; Audrey Smalling, Cosmetology, Point Pleasant; Scott Brindley, Marine Service Technology, Manahawkin; Adam McCloskey (PS), Computer Science, Little Egg Harbor; Melany Cruz, Law & Public Safety, Forked River and Angela Boudreau, Cosmetology, Toms River.

Ocean County Vocational Technical School offers over 30 career training programs for high school students and adults. Visit www.ocvts.org for information about all of the programs and services offered at OCVTS. OCVTS is accepting applications for September classes. Discover how OCVTS can be a part of your future! Follow OCVTS on twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.