Penn College SkillsUSA competitors advance to nationals

Pennsylvania College of Technology students were perfect at the recent SkillsUSA Pennsylvania championships in Hershey. All 11 students representing the school captured first place in their respective competitions, earning a trip to nationals.

“I am so proud of our students with their outstanding performance at states,” said James N. Colton II, assistant professor of welding and the college’s SkillsUSA advisor. “The 11 winners from Penn College at Hershey represent eight different skill categories. Qualifying for nationals is a testament to their individual dedication and the hands-on education that they receive here at the college.” 

The Penn College gold medalists and their categories were:

Owen W. Brackbill, Doylestown, teamworks team
Chase D. Ebeling, Bellefonte, plumbing
Kole L. Fries, Honesdale, teamworks team
Steven M. Gautsch, East Berlin, aviation
Connor M. Hecei, of Warren, automotive light repair
Kenneth J. Lees, Tunkhannock, carpentry
Richard T. Markle, Spring Mills, technical drafting
Clayton R. Petlock, Sugar Run, HVAC
Sam J. Thornton, Havertown, teamworks team
Falcon J. Wilmot, of Laurel, Maryland, automotive refinishing
Kane S. Wright, Williamsport, teamworks team

The college itself was honored at the State Leadership & Skills Conference in Hershey with the award for SkillsUSA Pennsylvania 2025 Partner of the Year.

Previously, four Penn College welding students – Clayton J. Fegley, McClure; Sam R. Laudenslager, Middleburg; Tyler C. Martin, Selinsgrove; and Liam W. Patton, Apollo – secured spots at nationals with first-place showings. The college hosted the state welding competition last month.

The SkillsUSA National Championships will feature more than 6,500 state champions competing in 114 skilled and leadership categories. The event will take place during the National Leadership & Skills Conference, scheduled for June 23-27 in Atlanta. The event is dubbed “the largest gathering of America’s future skilled workforce.”