Congratulations to our SkillsUSA New York State award winners
Team Career & Tech does it again, bringing home several top awards from the SkillsUSA New York State competition in Syracuse, April 18-20. Congratulations to the following students, and all who competed:

1st place:
Jessyca Keffer, Floral Design, Cohoes

Larissa Townley, Food & Beverage Service/Culinary Arts Tech Prep, Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk

2nd place:
Danielle Rudolph, Customer Service/Computer Applications, Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk

Ashley Fortin, Culinary Arts/Culinary Arts Tech Prep, Mohonasen

3rd place:
Brian Simpson, HVAC, Duanesburg

Ashley Walsh, Action Skills/Nurse Assistant, Shenendehowa

First-place winner Larissa Townley goes on to national competition in Kansas City this June. Unfortunately, there is not a SkillsUSA national event in floral design.

At the state Food and Beverage event, Larissa competed against 29 students from various career and technical schools, including full-day and 4-year schools. The contest focused on table setup, host/guest relations, presentation of menus and service techniques.

To win her competition, Floral Design student Jessyca Keffer had to master an oral flower identification test, and create a bouquet, corsage and birthday arrangement. "The best part was making the bridal bouquet," she says, "because it's my favorite and I'm really good at it." A senior, she will go on to SUNY Cobleskill to major in Floral Design & Landscaping. Her goal is to one day own her own flower shop.

SkillsUSA is a national organization for career and technical school students that promotes professional and personal growth through competitions, seminars, rallies and school-based activities. SkillsUSA chapters are based in both the Albany and Schoharie campuses of the Capital Region Career & Technical School, with student members leading many charitable and skill-building efforts in support of their whole school.

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