Bearcats take home gold at SkillsUSA state competition
- 83 Paso Robles Bearcats attended the 48th annual SkillsUSA conference in San Diego.
Gold medalists advance to the National Leadership & Skills Conference held during June this year in Louisville, Kentucky
Eighty-three Paso Robles Bearcats attended the 48th annual SkillsUSA Conference in San Diego, from April 9-12. The conference was attended by more than 2,200 students, advisors (teachers) and industry representatives from around the state, who participated in over 100 competitions during the four-day event.
The Bearcats competed in 34 different contests representing all of the career pathways available in the applied technologies offered through the PRHS career technical education department. These pathways include: automotive, building trades, information technology, video production, health occupations, childhood education, culinary arts, welding and engineering.
Many local students won gold, silver and bronze medals in their competitions. However, only the gold medalists advance to the National Leadership & Skills Conference being held during June this year in Louisville, Kentucky. The following is a listing of all Bearcat medal winners:
The Gold Medalists advancing from PRHS
• William Carney, audio/radio production – team
• Matthew Munro
• Matthew Dodds, electrical construction wiring
• Ryan Johnston, motorcycle service tech.
• Taylor Lamascus, power equipment tech.
• Natalie Martin, culinary arts
• Aca McDonald, marine service tech.
• Cassidy Moses, early childhood education
• Angelica Stainbrook, mobile electronics installation
• Mason Steiner, plumbing
• Joseph Tognetti, telecommunications cabling
• Iver Hansen, oxy-acetylene welding (Calif. only contest)
SkillsUSA State Silver Medalists
• Cole Cargill, CPS- Manufacturing – team
• Matthew Durian
• Caleb Rivera
• Michael Dye, welding sculpture
• Hartley Hall, power equipment tech.
• Austin Lloyd, plumbing
• Lauren Martinez, commercial baking
• Michael Slason, electrical construction wiring
SkillsUSA State Bronze Medalists
• Jazmine Briseno, early childhood education
• David Krivinko, welding fabrication – team
• Skyler O’Conner
• Sabastian Ouellette
Most of the gold medalists won various prizes that are supplied by business and industry. Ryan Johnston, who won gold in motorcycle service tech., was awarded a $29,000 scholarship to one of four motorcycle technician training schools. Matt Dodds and Mason Steiner, competing in electrical and plumbing, won tools valuing several hundred dollars. Cassidy Moses won a gift card and several teaching aids. Iver Hansen won welding tools and a design text. Natalie Martin won a $1,000 scholarship to Johnson & Wales Culinary Institute. Taylor Lamascus, Hartley Hall, and Aca McDonald won tools of their trades. William Carney and Matt Munro won a $200 certificate toward their cost to attend the national conference. Silver and bronze medalists also won some prizes depending on the contest business and industry sponsor.
PRHS automotive instructor Greg Boswell was honored as the Region 2 Advisor of the Year. Greg had students competing in the: motorcycle service, marine service, mobile electronics installation, diesel maintenance and power equipment tech. categories. Greg is a thirty year veteran of the automotive industry. Advisors of the year are nominated by their peers and/or students. Each are interviewed during the state conference and the winner is selected.
PRHS automotive instructor Greg Boswell was honored as the Region 2 Advisor of the Year.
Attending as Advisors were: Greg Boswell, Alisa Breidensteiner, Randy Canaday, Bartt Frey, Kelly Franks, Jason Taylor, Nancy Taylor, Justin Pickard, Brenda Matthysee, Denise Conte, Phil Riccomini, John Rucker, Dennis Peters and PRHS Principal Randy Nelson.
Advancing students will begin their quest for financial contributions to the conference. Each student will be responsible to raise $600 toward their approximate cost of $1,400 each. Anyone interested in financially assisting these students may contact Randy Canaday at rcanaday@pasoschools.org or (805) 674-4170.
On May 13, the Sponsor Appreciation Dinner will be held at the Culinary Arts facility on Golden Hill Rd. Many of the gold, silver and bronze sponsors will be recognized for their contributions to SkillsUSA as guests of honor. These businesses and individuals contribute over $250 for bronze, $500 for silver and $1000 for gold. The contributors allow the student to only pay a portion of their cost. The cost of the dinner is $15 per person. Start time is 6 p.m. The guest speaker is Clay Mitchell, the California SkillsUSA Director. Please RSVP for Dinner to – rcanaday@pasoschools.org or rcanaday51@gmail.com.
