Williamson Shines at SkillsUSA States!

Williamson’s reputation for producing outstanding tradesmen, and well-behaved gentlemen, continued as the ten students in the SkillsUSA state competitions in Hershey, competing in groups and solo, took three gold, four silver, and one bronze medals.

Gold medal winners were: Masonry Competition – Cody Palmer 1W6, Construction Technology-Masonry; CNC Technician Competition – Dave Byers 1W6 Machine Tool Technology; and Painting Competition – Mike Gerolamo 1W6, Paint and Coatings Technology.

Silver medals went to: Carpentry Competition – Ian Steveline 1W7, Construction Technology-Carpentry; Residential Wiring Competition – Arsenio Kerr 1W8, Power Plant Technology; Plumbing Competition – Tim Bozzelli 1W8, Power Plant Technology; and Automated Manufacturing Technology Competition – Brian Arrell 1W6, Vince Maturo 1W6, and Steve Nakrasius 1W6, all Machine Tool Technology.

The bronze medal went to Industrial Motor Control Competition – Kevin Knapp 1W7, Power Plant Technology.

All gold medal winners will compete in the national competitions from June 21-25 in Louisville, KY, except Gerolamo because that competition is not held at that level.

Dan Hiltebeitel, SkillsUSA advisor and director of construction technology-masonry, said “This was a very successful state competition for Williamson and I am very proud of our students. They made a favorable impression on everyone who came into contact with them, from the contest judges to other supervisors to other competitors. I heard many people say to our students unexpectedly, ‘Are you a Williamson student?’ They recognized them as Williamson men because of their high trade skill level and their behavior, attitude, grooming, and table manners. They represented Williamson very well.

“They also helped spread Williamson’s name across the state as each one of them had their name and school called as they walked onto the stage in front of 1,500 people from across the state and officers put a medal around their necks and shook their hands.”

Hiltebeitel added, “One of the motivations of mine to continue to compete in SkillsUSA is that we can’t just say we are the best trade school in the country; we have to show it. This is one way we show it to many people.”

Jim Schell, power plant technology instructor, said “The power plant technology students did extremely well in their competitions and will be back next year. I expect us to do even better then.”

Attending the competitions with Hiltebeitel and Schell was John Curran, paint shop instructor.

Great job gentlemen!