On January 26, 2024, representatives from the Seneca Highlands Career and Technical Center travelled to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, to compete in the District 6 Skills USA competition at the Pennsylvania College of Technology. The participants were given the opportunity to show how vital career and technical education are to America’s future through their applied learning, presentations, demonstrations, and speaking and employability skills. 

Skills USA is a nonprofit national student organization that serves students enrolled in a career and technical school. Its mission is to empower its members to become world-class workers and responsible citizens, and it complements the skills training received at the Seneca Highlands Career and Technical Center. The advisors at the Career and Technical Center are Mr. Brent Bryant and Mrs. Kim Mooney. 

The following list is made up of sixteen students from the Seneca Highlands Career and Technical Center and their home district who participated in the competition. First Place students will attend the state competition for Skills USA coming up in Hershey, Pennsylvania. We are so very proud of all the student competitors who attended the district-level competition, and perhaps some of our students at the Seneca Highland Career and Technical Center may advance to the national level!

Attendees at District 6 Competitions:

Information Technology Service: Garry Strait, Otto- Eldred High School, 1st Place

Quiz Bowl Team: Nicole Hockey, Cameron County High School- 1st Place

Maximos McGarvey,  Port Allegany High School, 1st Place

Clara Jane Kuscienz, Otto- Eldred High School, -1st Place

Owen Erhard, Port Allegany High School, 1st Place

Richard Wojcik, Otto- Eldred High School, 1st Place

Early Childhood Education: Blair Dickinson, Smethport High School

Job Skill Demonstration A: Alyssa Young, Smethport High School, 2nd Place

Prepared Speech: Madison Ness, Smethport High School

Culinary Arts: Khristine Watts, Otto- Eldred High School

Baking and Pastry Arts: Jaden McDonald, Otto- Eldred High School

Restaurant Service Anastasia Penick, Port Allegany High School, 1st Place

Nurse Assisting – Jaiden Thomas, Smethport High School

Welding- Bennett Harris, Smethport High School 

Carpentry- Abram Austin, Otto- Eldred High School

Job Interview- Blake Cool, Cameron County, 1st Place