One hundred twenty Ocean County Vocational Technical School (OCVTS) students competed at the New Jersey SkillsUSA Championships which took place Saturdays in March and April in Atlantic City, Camden, Cumberland, Gloucester, Somerset Counties, New Jersey. In addition to the Vocational Schools’ sites, the N.E. Carpenters Apprentice Training Center, Edison and the Mercedes Benz Training Center, Robbinsville, New Jersey also hosted various SkillsUSA competitions. SkillsUSA is a national organization which provides quality educational experiences for students in leadership, teamwork, citizenship and character development.

The students competed in over 46 different career-skills events against other high school and post-secondary students from all regions of New Jersey. The Awards Ceremony was held Saturday, April 1, 2023 where winners were announced for all events; whether Saturday’s competitions or contests held earlier in 2023. OCVTS students received an astounding 41 medals overall; 15 gold, 18 silver and 9 bronze.

Many of the gold medal winners are now eligible to advance to the 59th Annual SkillsUSA National Competition/Conference which will be held in Atlanta, Georgia at the end of June. As per the official website, skillsusa.org, the Conference is a showcase of career and technical education students. More than 12,000 people – including students, teachers and business partners – are expected to participate in the weeklong event. In addition to the actual competitions, students participate in individual, group and interactive leadership training activities. More than 6,500 career and technical education students, all state contest winners, will compete hands-on in 108 different trade, technical and leadership fields. The week’s events culminate with the Awards Ceremony, where many of the nation’s top finishers will receive scholarships, tools, computers or other prizes related to their career fields in additional to their medals and national recognition.

GOLD MEDAL WINNERS, THEIR PROGRAMS OF STUDY AND HOMETOWN:
Shirley Zeng, Medical Skills, Barnegat, Emily Wilczek, Law & Public Safety, Forked River,
Diana Slavich, Law & Public Safety, Jackson, Brigitte Ortiz, Medical Assistant, Toms River,
Jordan Kosich, Design & Visual Communications, Barnegat, Jake Jauch, Culinary Arts, Manahawkin,
Noah Donnerstag, Design & Visual Communications, Bayville, Ryan Hall, Marine Service Technology, Point Pleasant, Xaiver Florencio, Electrical Trades, Toms River, Jacob Brush, Computer Science, Toms River, Hannah Boden, Medical Assistant, Forked River, Lia Mandica, Building Construction Technology, Beachwood, Donald Freed, Building Construction Technology, Toms River, Rocco Schmitt, Building Construction Technology, Lanoka Harbor, and Joylette Gould, Cosmetology, Manchester.

SILVER MEDAL WINNERS, THEIR PROGRAMS OF STUDY AND HOMETOWN:
Dianara Torres, Cosmetology, Lakewood, Jasmin Ramirez, Cosmetology, Toms River,
Alexis Alvarado, Performing Arts, Brick, Sophie Gabriel, Performing Arts, Bayville,
Gabrielle Rizzo, Performing Arts, Toms River, Sarah Roth, Performing Arts, Bayville, Isabella Vitello,
Performing Arts, Toms River, Sean Clarke, Diesel Engine Technology, Toms River, Alexandris Conklin, Electrical Trades, Bayville, Brenda Sanchez, Law & Public Safety, Lakewood, Broden Connolly, Marine & Environmental Science, Lanoka Harbor, Briana Tilghman, Design & Visual Communications, Toms River, Lillion Bartlinski, Law & Public Safety, Waretown, Conner Cadena, Law & Public Safety, Little Egg Harbor, Marcos Gaspar, Law & Public Safety, Manchester, Sarahy Gaspar, Law & Public Safety, Manchester, Jacob Michalik, Law & Public Safety, Brick, and Ava Snelling, Cosmetology, Manchester.

BRONZE MEDAL WINNERS, THEIR PROGRAMS OF STUDY AND HOMETOWN:
Keira Korkowski, Law & Public Safety, Barnegat, Kathleen Lopez, Law & Public Safety, Lanoka Harbor, Alex Tecalero, Law & Public Safety, So. Toms River, Hayley Salazar, Law & Public Safety, Toms River, Nicolette Troche, Cosmetology, Brick, Alison Nealen, Cosmetology, New Egypt,
Michael Hiksdal, Design & Visual Communications, Little Egg Harbor, Lillian Clayton, Design & Visual Communications, Point Pleasant Beach, and Cassandra Macaluso, Health & Fitness, Beachwood.


Ocean County Vocational Technical School offers over 30 career training programs for high school students and adults. Visit www.ocvts.org for information about all of the programs and services offered at OCVTS. OCVTS is accepting applications for September classes. Discover how OCVTS can be a part of your future! Follow OCVTS on twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.