ROCHESTER — Old Colony won 22 medals a March 1 vocational competition with six bronze medalists, seven silver medalists, and nine gold medalists, including two gold medalists in a team event.

Ninety six Old Colony students took part in the 2019 SkillsUSA District I conference at Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational-Technical High School on Friday, March 1. 

This year’s number is much higher than the 69 students that competed last year. Students took part in 24 separate competitions and qualified to attend by winning competitions in their shop areas.

Gold medalist Amanda Hannon said, “since I was competing against 35 other students, I knew that the competition would be tough, so I was blown away when my name was called.” 

“I’m pretty excited to go to states this year. It was fun last year,” said gold medalist Patrick Flannery. 

However he also acknowledged that, “hard work and studying have definitely helped me to get to where I am now. I am more than thankful for having both of my shop teachers there to guide me to this medal and the state competition.” 

Some of his excitement returned when he said, “I cannot wait to go to states.”

The gold and silver medalists from each of these competitions qualify for the state competition in Marlboro, Massachusetts which will take place on April 25-27.

If any of the students take gold in the state competition, then they will advance to the National competition in Louisville, Kentucky in June.

The advisors for SkillsUSA from Old Colony are Norman L’Heureux, a 2015 graduate from Old Colony, Andre Arsenault, kitchen instructor in culinary arts, Lisa Maiden, a culinary-related teacher, and Kimberly Parnell, the cosmetology instructor for Grades 9 and 10.

2019 Gold Medalists:
Seniors: 
Amanda Hannon (Carpentry)
Jessica Fay (Cosmetology Over 500 Hours)
Maxwell Smith (Culinary Arts)
Patrick Flannery (Electronics)
Rylie Taveira (Nurse Assisting or health careers)

Juniors:
Katherine Ashley (Technical Drafting or CADD)

Sophomores:
Taylor Durant (CADD)
Katelyn Caplette (Esthetics)
Zachariah O’Hare 
Anthony MacKay (Web Design)

2019 Silver Medalists:
Seniors:
Timothy Bourque (Automotive) 
Jeremy Miller(CADD)

Juniors:
Lauryn Macomber(Culinary Arts),
Madison Weed (Cosmetology)
Kyle Wright (Business Tech).

Sophomores:
Felicity Cabral (Esthetics)

2019 Bronze medalists:
Seniors:
Anthony Wright (Culinary Arts)
Kevin Gazard (Electronics Technology)
Catrina Spapik (Restaurant Service) 
Lauren Patnaude (Architectural Drafting)

Juniors:
Jacob Andrews (Automotive Service Technology)
Katherine Ashley (Technical Drafting)
Sarah Dawicki (Cosmetology Under 500 hours)