BOCES Students Looking Forward to Challenges in Skill Competition

ALBANY/SCHOHARIE -- Dozens of high school students from across the region will represent Capital Region BOCES in the regional SkillsUSA competition taking place in mid-March.

The 2025 Area III SkillsUSA Competition will feature more than 400 students from dozens of schools testing their skills in 32 events ranging from baking to nursing, diesel engine repair and heavy equipment operation. The majority of events are taking place at the Capital Region BOCES Career and Technical Education Center - Albany Campus on March 19; though some events are also taking place at SUNY Schenectady County Community College and the International Union of Operating Engineers training center.

Capital Region BOCES students competing said they are excited to meet new people and test themselves.

“I am looking forward to challenging myself with something I have never done before,” said Ivan Bittner, a Network Technology junior from Cohoes. “Mr. Henson realized I have the opportunity and potential to be good at speaking and encouraged me to compete. I was 50/50 at first, but I realized you miss every shot you don’t take.”

Fellow junior Alana Gauvreau said she is equally interested in challenging herself.

"SkillsUSA is fun and it gives me the opportunity to see other people and how I compare to them," the Scotia-Glenville student enrolled in the Culinary Arts program said.

Students from nearly every Capital Region high school will be taking part in the events at both locations, hoping to advance to represent their region at the New York State SkillsUSA competition in late-April. 

“I am hoping to make it to states,” said Lydia Waage, a Heavy Equipment Repair and Operation junior from Cobleskill-Richmondville said. “I am looking forward to meeting new people, and I am good at public speaking.” 

Deb Toy, a social worker on the Career and Technical Education Center- Albany Campus and a SkillsUSA advisor, said the regional SkillsUSA competition is important not only because of the actual competition, but also because of the opportunities it affords students. 

“This is an important competition as it reinforces the value of these skills and these jobs with the students while allowing them to interact with their peers with similar interests, as well as with business and industry partners who are acting as contest chair people and judges,” Toy said. “Our business partners tell us on a virtually daily basis that the need for students to have these skills and to prepare to fill the middle skills jobs gap has never been greater.” 

Students competing in the regional competition, followed by their event and their home school district includes:  

Albany Campus

Nick Smith, Diesel Equipment Technology, Middleburgh

Charles Tommell, Diesel Equipment Technology, Berne-Knox-Westerlo (BKW)

Students attending the regional competition for other SkillsUSA activities, such as meetings, include:

Schoharie Campus

Montana Garcia, Action Skills Basic, Schoharie              

Cody Vannie, Automotive Service Technology, Duanesburg

Austin Mazza, Baking and Pastry, CRCS

James Hitchcock, Carpentry, CRCS

Ed Maura, Carpentry, Duanesburg

Kadence Lawrence, Cosmetology Junior, BKW 

The team of Ayumi Shaw, Middleburgh; Wyatt Moss, Duanesburg and T.J. Caron, BKW, Crime Scene Investigation

The team of Alexzina Merritt, Sharon Springs; McKenzie Tansey, CRCS and Riley VanDenburgh, Schalmont, Crime Scene Investigation

Jake LeSage, Culinary Arts, CRCS

Isabella Rosini, Early Childhood Education, Duanesburg

CJ Palluti, Electrical Construction Wiring, Duanesburg

Bryce Mensing, Electrical Construction Wiring, Duanesburg

Emily Gwozdz, Electrical Construction Wiring, Sharon Springs

Madeline Markson, Food Preparation Basic, BKW

Ayden Marsh, Heavy Equipment Operations, Middleburgh

Jeffrey Mulhern, Heavy Equipment Operations, Duanesburg 

Caitlyn Engle, Job Skill Demo Open, Sharon Springs, 

Dylan Gallagher, Job Skill Demo Open, CRCS

Lydia Waage, Prepared Speech, CRCS 

The team of Fayth Farrisi, Sharon Springs; Giavanna Robinson, Sharon Spring and Brooke'lyn Bender, CRCS, Promotional Bulletin Board 

Marley Wayman, Restaurant Service, CRCS    

Peyton Mazzariello, Welding, CRCS

Anais Trombley, Welding, Middleburgh

Students attending the regional competition for other SkillsUSA activities, such as meetings, are:

Joseph Nedelsky, Security Corps, Sharon Springs 

Brady Canning, Security Corps, Duanesburg   

Molly Coppolo, Security Corps, CRCS 

Dominic Castro Fletcher, Security Corps, CRCS           

Sirenity Gonzalez, Photographer, Schoharie     

Rose Mercer, Culinary Competition Cluster Helper, Middleburgh