Forrest Center Students Win At 51st Annual State SkillsUSA Competition

Richard Guzman-Moran, Kylie Abell, and Valeria Corona getting ready to present their project on a close-to-zero carbon-footprint house. They ended up with Silver at the State level and going to Nationals.

LEONARDTOWN, Md. – Students from the Dr. James A. Forrest Career and Technology Center recently participated in the 51^st Annual SkillsUSA Maryland State Championships which took place in the Carroll County area. The contests that Forrest Center students competed in were as varied as the program offerings at the center.

At the awards ceremony, 40 Forrest Center students medaled. In addition to the medalists, two students were elected to state-wide office and two students were selected as National Voting Delegates. Results are as follows:

John Praktish (behind judge in blue shirt), Connor Ferrall, and Jahdane Thaxter are preparing to terminate cables in the Telecommunications Cabling contest hosted by local company I.E.T.

Telecommunications Cabling

Gold – Connor Ferrall (Electrical Wiring)
Silver – John Praktish (Electrical Wiring)
Bronze – Jahdane Thaxter (Electrical Wiring)

Customer Service

Gold – Kayden Thompson (Hospitality & Tourism)

Principles of Engineering Technology

Silver – Kimberly Valdivia (Engineering)

3-D Visualization and Animation

Gold – Sylvia Suckow (CADD), Abigal Cronkright (Graphic Communications)

Early Childhoood Education

Gold – Colbie Miller (Teacher Academy)

Bronze – Riley Day (Teacher Academy)

Promotional Bulletin Board

Bronze – Melanie Scott, Taylor Howell, Jenna Bradburn (Teacher Academy)

Makayla Porter, Brianna Rourke, and Harmony Clark are representing 3 different programs that created a mobile alert system to assist caretakers of people with Alzheimer's, Autism, and other mental disabilities. This project won Gold and will represent the state of Maryland at Nationals. This is Brianna's Rourke third time receiving Gold for an Engineering Technology Design project! — Makayla Porter, Brianna Rourke, and Harmony Clark are representing 3 different programs that created a mobile alert system to assist caretakers of people with Alzheimer’s, Autism, and other mental disabilities. This project won Gold and will represent the state of Maryland at Nationals. This is Brianna’s Rourke third time receiving Gold for an Engineering Technology Design project!

Engineering Technology/Design

Gold – Makayla Porter (CADD), Brianna Rourke (Engineering), Harmony Clark (IT Networking)

Bronze – Brady Weimert, Bradey Barr, Logan Grimm (Engineering)

Information Technology Services

Silver – Cole Bowser (IT Networking)

Interactive Application and Video Game Design

Gold – Ian Day, Vincent Churilla (Engineering)

Audio/Radio Production

Gold – Jessica Abernethy, Haley Carroll (Digital Media Production)

Bronze – Dominic Perrotta, Craig Donaldson (Digital Audio & Podcasting)

Emergency Medical Technician – EMT

Silver – Shane Jackson, Megan Williams (Firefighting/EMT)

Bronze – Rachel Montfort, Jason Scully (Firefighting/EMT)

Jennifer Tippett is a first year student who won Bronze in Auto Refinishing competition.

Automotive Refinishing Technology

Bronze – Jennifer Tippett (Automotive Refinishing and Repair)

Basic Health Care Skills

Silver – Abigail Eberly (Academy of Health Professions)

Quiz Bowl

Bronze – Makenna Porter (CCMA), Bryce Burch, Landon Palmer, Titus Coogan, Nathan Gonzalez (IT Networking)

Technical Drafting

Bronze – Michael Owens (CADD)

Photography

Silver – Mancil Gray (Graphic Communications)

Collision Damage Appraisal

Gold – Ryan Tucker (Automotive Refinishing and Repair)

Career Pathways – Industrial and Engineering Technology

Silver – Richard Guzman-Moran, Valeria Cervantes-Corona, Kylie Abell (Electrical Wiring)

Officer Elects:

SkillsUSA Maryland State Officer – Bryce Burch (IT Networking)

SkillsUSA Maryland State Officer – Damien Maines (IT Networking)

National Voting Delegates:

Makenna Porter (CCMA)

Camille Van Erp (IT Networking)

FCTC students representing our local SkillsUSA Chapter as State Voting Delegates - Valeria Cervantes Corona, Lilia Burkes (SkillsUSA National Officer), Seth Posey, Allison Curtis (Local Chapter President), Jillian Finch, Gretchen Fleck — FCTC students representing our local SkillsUSA Chapter as State Voting Delegates – Valeria Cervantes Corona, Lilia Burkes (SkillsUSA National Officer), Seth Posey, Allison Curtis (Local Chapter President), Jillian Finch, Gretchen Fleck

All gold medal winners are qualified to compete at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference to be held in Atlanta, GA the week of June 24, 2024. The state officers and National Voting Delegates also attend the National Conference as part of the state’s leadership and participate in the national delegate assembly.

Kaitlyn Pyles competing in Electrical Construction Wiring. (only girl in the competition).

Fifteen Forrest Center students have the opportunity to represent the state of Maryland in Atlanta, Georgia this year. Fundraising efforts are currently underway. If you would like to donate toward the students’ trip, please contact the school at 301-475-0242 and ask for Ms. Mary Thompson or Mr. Mike Stevens.