Crowned Best in NYS: SkillsUSA Competitors Head to Nationals

Posted On Friday June 02, 2023
Best NYS LWolford GMerlino_4716
Luke Wolford works with instructor Garth Merlino.

A pair of Erie 1 BOCES students are taking their talents to the national stage, representing New York State at the SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference in June.

The annual competition, held this year in Atlanta, Ga., are career competition events showcasing the best career and technical education students in the nation. The opportunity was made possible following each students’ performance at the SkillsUSA New York State competition in April.

Colin Jamieson, a senior from JFK High School, secured his spot with a first-place finish in the Collision Repair Technology category. Colin attends the Collision Repair program at Erie 1 BOCES Harkness Career & Technical Center in Cheektowaga, and said patience is a key to performing well.

“You can’t rush,” Colin said. “Do it right the first time…as little details show up in the paint after.”

Colin will miss his high school graduation ceremony, which conflicts with the competition date. But he’s excited to compete.

“I’m also looking forward to the hotel,” he said.

Also attending the national competition is Nathan Wittmeyer, a second-place finisher at the state competition in the Industrial Motor Control category, which focuses on electrical wiring. Nathan is competing on behalf of first-place finisher Luke Wolford.

Luke, a senior at Lancaster High School, attends the Electrical Systems program at Erie 1 BOCES Harkness Career & Technical Center. For Luke, it was harder to choose the national competition over two big life events that were scheduled for the same week.

“I would miss my graduation and my girlfriend’s prom,” Luke said.

Nathan, an Electrical Systems student at Erie 1 BOCES Potter Career & Technical Center, will be attending the national competition for a second time, after a first-place finish at the state competition in 2022.

“It was definitely a surprise, and I wasn’t expecting it,” Nathan said. “Not a lot of people do that though, so it’s a big honor.”

Following the competition and their graduation, both teens in the Electrical Systems program will enter the workforce. Nathan currently works at HDE Electric, where he plans to continue working and training after graduating. Luke works for Mike Allen Electric and plans to enroll in a journeyman apprenticeship program.

Colin plans to continue his education at a technical college.