The MOBOCES chapter of SkillsUSA earned its first-ever Quality Chapter distinction!

The recognition was presented during this year’s NYS SkillsUSA Championships in Syracuse, where 15 of our CTE students competed in contests demonstrating their technical and workplace skills.

Quality Chapter is the first status level in SkillsUSA’s Chapter Excellence Program, recognizing chapters for their programming, budgeting, organization and alignment with national standards. Securing this status allows chapters to work toward two higher levels in the future.

This year’s officers, who planned and led the meetings and activities that allowed the chapter to apply for this recognition, are:

• President - Kylie Watts (VVS), Cosmetology
• Vice President - Malloy Brouillette (Madison), Electrical/HVAC
• Treasurer - Declan McNamara (VVS), IT Systems/CISCO Networking
• Secretary - Grace Lanz (VVS), Manufacturing Technology
• Parliamentarian - Giana Simzer (Oneida), Criminal Justice
• Reporter - Mateo Mays (Rome), Manufacturing Technology
• Photographers - Kemar Cruz (Rome) and Jaden McCormick (Oneida), both Graphic Design
• Officer at Large - Maura MacDonald (Oneida), Carpentry

Chapter Advisor Christi Hanson said she is extremely proud of what SkillsUSA has accomplished this year, particularly the service learning projects, which benefit both campus programs and the community.

“Our officers and members participate in SkillsUSA as an added bonus to our amazing CTE programs,” she said. “They have opportunities through SkillsUSA that they may not have at their home schools - leadership, school and community involvement, and a chance to network with other like-minded individuals in their desired career fields.”

The MOBOCES chapter currently has 68 student members, 15 of whom competed at states in April in 8 different contests. Congratulations to:

• Andrew Haddad (Canastota) - Automotive Service Technology
• Giana Simzer (Oneida), Jack Cross (Stockbridge Valley) and Kenneth Relyea (Canastota) -Crime Scene Investigation team
• Dominic Fellows (Oneida) - Culinary Arts
• Kylie Watts (VVS) - Customer Service
• Phoebe Martinez (Rome) - Employment Application Process
• Christina Mancuso (VVS), Sydney Matt (VVS) - Nail Technology
• Joe Pizzuto (Stockbridge Valley) - Power Equipment Technology
• Emily Mobbs (Stockbridge Valley), Emma Stagner (Rome), Taylor Herman (Canastota), Rowan Prentice (VVS) and Lilly Caro (Rome) - Cosmetology Quiz Bowl team