Students attend conference
SPARTA Sussex County Technical Schools SkillsUSA chapter sent 14 students and two advisors to Kansas City, Mo., on June 23, for the 48th Annual SkillsUSA National Conference. The high school's SkillsUSA advisors Ralph Starace and Cathy Paterson accompanied Ashley Prior, Michael Hough, Nate Stephens, Anna Nied, Tonja Davis, Erin Caffrey, Maame Quainoo, Ashley Hernandez, Gabriella Bisconti, Julia Dale, Fatmira Lilo, Stephen DeVito, SkillsUSA Northern Region President Christina Lawrence and New Jersey State President Daria Ferdine.
The multi-day conference included leadership training, which some students and advisors attended and competitions. Christina, Daria, Ashley, Anna, Fatmira, Tonja and Erin competed as a team in the Opening and Closing Ceremony competition. Michael Hough competed in Mobile Electronics. Nathaniel Stevens competed in Diesel Technology finishing 13th out of 32. Julia Dale competed in Electronics Technology.
Maame Quainoo, Ashley Prior and Gabriella Bisconti competed in Career Pathways-Health Science, bringing home three silver medals. Stephen, Daria and Ashley also acted as delegates representing New Jersey at the National Officer Election.
The group was among 5,400 competitors at the conference, which was attended by more than 20,000 people. According to Sgtephen DeVito, "It was an awesome learning experience."