BOCES Students Looking Forward to Challenging Themselves in Skill Competition

Above photo: Marley Wayman, McKenzie Tansey, Alexzina Merritt, Riley VanDenburgh

ALBANY/SCHOHARIE -- Dozens of high school students from across the region will represent Capital Region BOCES in the regional SkillsUSA competition taking place March 18 in Albany.

The 2026 Area III SkillsUSA Competition will feature more than 400 students from dozens of schools testing their skills in 32 events ranging from baking to nursing, diesel engine repair and heavy equipment operation. Most events take place at the Capital Region BOCES Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center - Albany Campus, though some events are also taking place at SUNY Schenectady County Community College and the International Union of Operating Engineers training center.

Capital Region BOCES students participating in the event said they are excited to meet new people and test themselves.

“I am competing because I am a competitive person and I want to win,” said Seamus McWatters, an Automotive Collision Technology senior from South Colonie.

Ja’Zir Marshall, a Culinary Arts and Hospitality Technology senior from Niskayuna, said competing in SkillsUSA “is a great opportunity and I want to see my friends.”

Meanwhile, some of the 92 other students representing Capital Region BOCES in the regional competition said they are excited for the opportunity to earn scholarships.

“I am competing because it opens doors to scholarships and helps me see where I am against others,” said Jack Smalley, an Automotive Collision Technology senior from Shenendehowa.

McKenzie Tansey, a Criminal Justice senior from Cobleskill-Richmondville, agreed.

“Competing at SkillsUSA is a lot of fun and there’s the bonus that you can win scholarships, so why wouldn’t you do it?” she said.

Besides those competing, 14 students are registered to volunteer for the security corps, helping students find their competitions and maintaining a safe and orderly environment.

And, another 12 students are attending the regional event to take part in the House of Delegates, where SkillsUSA officers and representatives from each of the career and technical schools gather to discuss issues. 

Finally, Allie Smith, a Heavy Equipment Repair and Operations (HERO) student from Schoharie, will also be attending the March 18 gathering as she is running for Area III Vice President of the SkillsUSA organization.

Deb Toy, a social worker on the Career and Technical Education Center - Albany Campus and a SkillsUSA advisor, said the regional SkillsUSA competition is important not only because of the actual competition, but also because of the opportunities it affords students. 

“This is an important competition as it reinforces the value of these skills and these jobs with the students while allowing them to interact with their peers with similar interests, as well as with business and industry partners who are acting as contest chairpeople and judges,” Toy said. “Our business partners tell us on a virtually daily basis that the need for students to have these skills and to prepare to fill the middle skills jobs gap has never been greater.” 

Students attending, their competition, some BOCES programs and home school districts are as follows:

Albany Campus competitors

Connor Testa, Auto Service Technology, Automotive Trades Technology,  Cobleskill-Richmondville (CRCS)

Troy Drobner, Diesel Equipment Technology, Diesel Technology, Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk (RCS)

Brody Gallagher, Diesel Equipment Technology, Diesel Technology, CRCS 

Nicholas Smith, Diesel Equipment Technology, Diesel Technology, Middleburgh

Hunter Goss, Related Technical Math, Manufacturing and Machining Technology, RCS

Collin Penn, Related Technical Math, Manufacturing and Machining Technology, Scotia-Glenville 

Schoharie Campus competitors

Kylee-Lynn Rios, Automotive Trades Technology, (CRCS)

Abigail Rose, Baking and Pastry, Culinary Arts and Hospitality Technology, Schalmont

Joanna McCann, Cosmetology Junior, Cosmetology, CRCS 

Lilianna Hotaling, Cosmetology Junior, Cosmetology, Berne-Knox-Westerlo (BKW)

Alexzina Merritt, Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) Team, Criminal Justice, Sharon Springs

McKenzie Tansey, CSI Team, Criminal Justice, CRCS

Riley VanDenburgh, CSI Team, Criminal Justice, Schalmont

Jordan Jones, CSI Team, Criminal Justice, BKW

Natalia Arnold, CSI Team, Criminal Justice, Middleburgh

Peyton Cieszynski, CSI Team, Criminal Justice, Schoharie

Marley Wayman, Criminal Justice, Criminal Justice, CRCS

Josivi Decarlo, Criminal Justice, Criminal Justice, Duanesburg

Drew Palluti, Culinary Arts, Culinary Arts and Hospitality Technology, Duanesburg

Kilie Palmatier, Early Childhood Education, Early Childhood Education, CRCS

Caylee Faulkner, Early Childhood Education, Early Childhood Education, CRCS 

Bryce Mensing, Electrical Construction Wiring, Electrical Trades Technology Duanesburg 

Jackson Ryder, Electrical Construction Wiring, Electrical Trades Technology, CRCS

Elizabeth Ecthner, Electrical Construction Wiring, Electrical Trades Technology, Middleburgh

Dylan Gallagher, Heavy Equipment Operations, HERO, CRCS

Lydia Waage, Heavy Equipment Operations, HERO, CRCS 

Liam Perry, Heavy Equipment Operations, HERO, CRCS

Olivia VanEvera, Job Interview, Welding and Metal Fabrication, CRCS

Matthew Mulhern, Job Skill Demo, Welding and Metal Fabrication, Middleburgh

Rosemary Harrington, Promotional Bulletin Board, Schalmont

Brianna Bailey, Promotional Bulletin Board, Duanesburg

Payton Schuyler, Promotional Bulletin Board, CRCS

Katelyn Delaney, Promotional Bulletin Board, Schalmont

Emily Gwozdz, Promotional Bulletin Board, Electrical Trades, Sharon Springs

Brianna Del Pozzo, Promotional Bulletin Board, Guilderland

Trista Smi, Welding, Welding and Metal Fabrication, BKW

Wyatt Strobeck, Welding, Welding and Metal Fabrication, Middleburgh 

Security Corp volunteers (all Criminal Justice students) and their home school district:

Schoharie Campus

Bella Yakel, BKW

Savanna Rode, CRCS

House of Delegate representatives attending, their program and home school district: 

Schoharie Campus

Katherine Koon, Building Trades, CRCS 

Sarah Gingell, Building Trades, CRCS

Madison Czechowski, Culinary Arts and Hospitality Technology, CRCS

Blake Terrell, HERO, BKW

Corinna LiVecchi, HERO, Middleburgh  

Anilah O'Brien Welding and Metal Fabrication, Schalmont