Eight First-Place Winners Among College's SkillsUSA Medalists

Eight Pennsylvania College of Technology students excelling in categories that span the institution's varied "degrees that work" earned gold medals at the SkillsUSA Pennsylvania Leadership and Skills Conference, held at the Hershey Convention Center from April 14-16.

The first-place winners, who are eligible for national competition June 20-25 in Kansas City, Mo., were among 16 Penn College medalists in the statewide vocational event. Seven students placed second, and another finished third.

Penn College's top competitors, their hometowns and their categories are: Robert W. Brobst, Salisbury, Md., Precision Machining Technology; Christopher M. Clemens, Wellsboro, Internetworking; Christopher M. Gayman, Columbia, Aviation Technology; Andrew J. Jaconetta, Windsor, Conn., Diesel Equipment Technology; Cody J. Miller, Cogan Station, Culinary Arts; Nathan G. Myers, Colver, Welding; Matthew D. Romanowski, Bethlehem, Masonry; and Ashley R. Wingate, Watsontown, Nurse Assisting.

Returning with silver medals were Zachary Bahr, Bensalem, Industrial Motor Control; Robert T. Berrier Jr., Lewistown, Technical Drafting; Charles D. Peterson, Cogan Station, Auto Refinishing; Thomas S. Rafferty, Waterford, Conn., Carpentry; Nicholas R. Rieber, Harrisburg, Automotive Service Technology; Allan R. Shimmel, Lanse, Architectural Drafting; and Nicholas L. Siegman, Langhorne, Residential Wiring.

Brittany A. Hoey, of East Stroudsburg, finished third in the Plumbing competition.

Also competing at the state level were Daryl V. Nash, Cogan Station, Job Skill Demonstration A; and Michael E. Sears, York, Collision Repair Technology.

Faculty advisers for the college's competitors are Roy A. Klinger, instructor of automotive technology; Larry B. Leavitt, associate professor of automotive technology; and Edward L. Roadarmel, assistant professor of drafting and computer aided design.

This year's winners bring to 78 the number of Penn College students who have gone on to national competition over the years; 22 of them came home with medals.

SkillsUSA serves more than 300,000 instructors and students preparing for careers in technical, skilled and service occupations.

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