Shawsheen Dominates at SkillsUSA District Finals

(Editor's note: The following information was submitted by Shawsheen Tech.)

Graphic Arts instructor and SkillsUSA advisor Heidi Lloyd summed up Shawsheen Valley Technical High School’s performance on March 14 at the district competition for SKillsUSA at Greater Lowell High School in Tyngsborough with one word.

“Outstanding,” she said. “That is all I can say. Our students cleaned house.”

In all, Shawsheen students piled up 76 medals, nearly doubling the school’s total from a year ago when Shawsheen brought home 46 medals.

“It was unbelievable,” said Lloyd.

Shawsheen’s 177 participating students earned 27 gold medals, 30 silver medals and 19 bronze medals. In most contests, first and second-place performances earn a trip to the state conference with a possible shot at qualifying for the national finals.

Shawsheen will take approximately 83 students to the state conference in Marlborough that begins on April 25 and runs through April 27. There will be more than 2,000 students competing.

Gold-medal winners from this conference move on to the national conference held in Kansas City at the end of June.

At the district event, some of Shawsheen’s many highlights featured a sweep in contests including Automotive Service Technology, Collision Repair Technology, Marine Service Technology, Plumbing, Power Equipment Technology, Electrical Construction Wiring, Screen Printing Technology and Sheet Metal.

Gold medalists from Billerica included senior Joseph Thissell in Welding Sculpture, senior Casey Seuy in Computer Maintenance Technology, junior Kirby Corcoran in Customer Service, sophomore John Spencer in First Aid/CPR, senior Crystal Hartwell in Restaurant Service, junior Scott Mellen in Marine Service Technology, senior Mike Durkee in Power Equipment Technology and the Team Works foursome of senior Kaitlin Fulton (mason), senior Daniel Johnstone (plumber), senior Derek Fedorchuk (carpenter) and junior Dylan King (electrician).

Three Burlington residents earned gold including junior Joe Maguire in Diesel Equipment Technology, junior Jason Mahoney in HVAC and Refrigeration and junior Adam Rovinelli in Mechatronics.

Two Wilmington residents brought home gold as senior Tyler Warner was tops in Plumbing and senior Matt Curran in Electrical Construction Wiring.

Tewksbury had 11 gold medalists including senior Ryan Dozois in Technical Drafting, junior David Park in Sheet Metal, senior Ryan Power in Screen Print Technology, senior Cameron Cathcart in Automotive Refinishing Technology, senior Joseph Johnson in CNC Milling Technology, senior Erin Higgins in Commercial Baking, senior Caitlin Kelley in Mechatronics, sophomore Taylor McNeil in Medical Assisting, senior Bryan Young in Graphic Communications, junior John Daughenbaugh in Collision Repair Technology and junior Bethany Scott as a state officer candidate.

In all, Shawsheen earned 30 silver medals.

Burlington junior John Edger was second in Marine Service Technology, Bedford sophomore Jeannette Lavine was No. 2 in Medical Terminology and five Wilmington residents earned silver including senior Jonathan King in Electrical Construction Wiring, senior Kevin White in Mechatronics, junior Brianna Gendreau in Nail Care and the tandem of senior Brandon Donovan and sophomore George Hooper in MoBe Robotics.

Twelve Tewksbury residents took second-place honors, a group that consisted of senior Elizabeth Brick in Advertising Design, junior Frederick Pendleton in Architectural Drafting, junior Paul Rice in Automotive Service Technology, senior Richard Driscoll in Collision Repair Technology, senior Benjamin Sullivan in Electronics Technology, junior Bryant Bonaiuto in Medical Assisting, junior William Ramsey in Screen Print Technology, sophomore Daniel Callanan in Sheet Metal, senior Kristen Carroll in Technical Drafting, seniors Courtney Silva and Jessica Qualters in Web Design and junior Scott Browne, who was the carpenter on a Team Works squad along with Billerica juniors Derek Guanci (mason), Nicholas Hoar (plumber) and Kevin Corcoran (electrician).

Other Billerica silver medalists included sophomore William Gath in Power Equipment Technology, senior Kevin Hines in Plumbing, senior Anthony Santos in Mechatronics, junior Kaylee Carcione in Graphic Communications, junior Tyler Cotreau in First Aid/CPR, junior Morgan Souza in Cosmetology (under 500 hours), senior Andrew Mongoivi in Computer Maintenance Technology and junior Keith Williams in Automotive Refinishing Technology.

Junior Thomas Barriss of Bedford earned a bronze medal in Plumbing while two Billerica residents brought home bronze as senior Charlene Clerveau was third in Basic Health Care Skills and junior David Schirpke was third in Automated Manual Technology.

Wilmington’s third-place performances came from senior Amber Hardy in Advertising Design, junior Gerald O’Rielly in Collision Repair Technology, sophomore Melissa King in Screen Print Technology and junior Brianna Anderson in Automated Manual Technology. Junior James Gibb of Wilmington also qualified for the state finals after a fourth-place finish in Masonry.

Twelve Tewksbury residents earned bronze, a group that consisted of sophomore Matt DiFelice in Welding, senior Michael Palmisano in Sheet Metal, senior Danny Lamarca in Electrical Construction Wiring, sophomore Mackenzie Boucher in Power Equipment Technology, junior Caitlyn McCreedy in Nail Care, sophomore Jasmyn Mirabal in Medical Terminology, senior Anthony Federico in Marine Service Technology, junior Danielle Barry in Computer Programming, senior Alexandra Breau in Commercial Baking, sophomore Cody Frontain in CNC Turning Technology, senior Mariah Culwell in Architectural Drafting and sophomore Mariah Wentzell in Automated Manual Technology.

Senior Nicholas Schaufus of Tewksbury also earned a spot at the state finals after a fifth-place finish in Masonry.

Photos: JPEGs attached. Below are the names of the JPEG files in bold that are attached, captions are below the names of the files.