BALTIMORE (July 15, 2005) – Maryland's SkillsUSA delegation of students, teachers, parents and administrators recently returned from the organization’s 2005 National Leadership and Skills Conference in Kansas City, MO, bringing home medals in 15 competitions. A team of the state’s most talented Career and Technology Education (CTE) secondary and post-secondary students showcased their skills in 74 trade, technical, health occupations and leadership competitions with more than half finishing in the top ten. Demonstrating exemplary CTE training, Maryland students challenged 4,700 other student champions from all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands.

Maryland students in Customer Service, Health Occupations Professional Portfolio, Medical Assisting, Occupational Health and Safety and Practical Nursing are officially the best in the nation, returning with gold medals. Silver medals were awarded to students in Community Service, Dental Assisting, First Aid / CPR, Job Interview, Promotional Bulletin Board, TeamWorks and Television News Anchor / Reporter. Bronze medals were awarded in Commercial Baking, Computer Programming, Criminal Justice, Practical Nursing and Telecommunications Cabling.

SkillsUSA Maryland boasts a statewide membership of 5,000 students. Members have consistently demonstrated their expertise and professionalism while participating throughout the year in a variety of leadership and competitive conferences. The Maryland State Department of Education, in cooperation with a myriad of business, industry and education partners, plans and facilitates two annual statewide conferences to prepare and identify students for this rigorous national competition. Maryland CTE students representing 20 counties and Baltimore City competed at the 2005 SkillsUSA State Championships held at the Center of Applied Technology North, Glen Burnie High School, CCBC Catonsville and Anne Arundel Community College’s Hospitality, Culinary Arts and Tourism Institute.

The following students finished the national challenge with outstanding accomplishments:

SkillsUSA Maryland National Top Ten – 2005 NLSC

Gold Medal – Customer Service- Post secondary

Jessica Zentz, Frederick County Career & Technology Center – Frederick County

Gold Medal – Health Occupations Professional Portfolio

Julianne Bodenhorn, Calvert Career Center – Calvert County

Gold Medal – Medical Assisting

Heather Ruest, Calvert Career Center – Calvert County

Gold Medal – Occupational Health & Safety - Multiple

Timothy Ancarrow, Calvert Career Center - Calvert County

Silver Medal – Community Service

Amye Ball, Shauntia White, Michelle Williams, Calvert Career Center – Calvert County

Silver Medal – Dental Assisting

Lacy McDaniel, Center of Applied Technology South – Anne Arundel County

Silver Medal – First Aid / CPR

Dena Tschupp, Calvert Career Center – Calvert County

Silver Medal – Job Interview

John Ridenour, Frederick County Career & Technology Center – Frederick County

Silver Medal – Promotional Bulletin Board

Ashley Favorite, Dana Robertson, Frederick County Career & Technology Center – Frederick County

Silver Medal – TeamWorks

Brian Burrier, Rae Froitzheim, Curtis Hodge, Andrew Putman, Frederick County Career and Technology Center, Frederick County

Silver Medal – Television News Anchor / Reporter

Nicole Gadd, Britney Gladhill, Jack Noble, Frederick County Career & Technology Center – Frederick County

Bronze Medal – Commercial Baking

Jessica LeCronier, Center of Applied Technology North, Anne Arundel County

Bronze Medal – Computer Programming

Colin Elliott, Calvert Career Center – Calvert County

Bronze Medal – Criminal Justice

Allison Gibbons, Dr. James A. Forrest Career & Technology Center – St. Mary’s County

Bronze Medal – Practical Nursing

Felicia Schreiner, Center of Applied Technology North – Anne Arundel County

Bronze Medal – Telecommunications Cabling

Bret Craven, Dr. James A. Forrest Career & Technology Center – St. Mary’s County

4th Place – Industrial Motor Control

Andrew McCauley, Center of Applied Technology North – Anne Arundel County

4th Place – Masonry

Chris Sherman, Harford Technical High School - Harford County

4th Place – Outstanding Chapter

Megan Porter, Calvert Career Center – Calvert County

4th Place – Team Problem Solving

Joseph Crist, Robert Thon, Joseph Tompkins, Jack Walter, Frederick County Career & Technology Center – Frederick County

5th Place – 3-D Visualization and Animation

Daniel Buckler, Kyle Kirkner, Dr. James A. Forrest Career & Technology Center – St. Mary’s County

5th Place – Basic Health Care Skills

Krystal Butler, Calvert Career Center – Calvert County

5th Place – Nail Care

Emily Gerrish, Melony Rippeon, Frederick County Career & Technology Center – Frederick County

5th Place – Power Equipment Technology

Jeremy Pasternak, Charles County Career & Technology Center – Charles County

6th Place – American Spirit

Ryan Manley, Calvert Career Center – Calvert County

6th Place – Major Appliance Technology

Kyle Fennell, Harford Technical High School – Harford County

6th Place – Radio (Audio) Production

Alexander Bunce, Matthew Moser, Frederick County Career & Technology Center- Frederick County

7th Place – Graphic Communications

Alden Merchant, Frederick County Career and Technology Center – Frederick County

7th Place – Principles of Technology

Marshall Trigg, Calvert Career Center – Calvert County

7th Place – Web Design

Bryan Wilkenson, Christopher Wroblewski, Thomas Edison High School of Technology - Montgomery County

8th Place – Action Skills

Casey Mitchell, Calvert Career Center – Calvert County

8th Place – Carpentry

John Lee, Calvert Career Center – Calvert County

8th Place – Culinary Arts

Curt Price, Western School of Technology & Environmental Science – Baltimore County

8th Place – Health Knowledge Bowl

Lacey Eyler, Sarah Foster, Valarie Gill, Krista Zucca, Frederick County Career & Technology Center – Frederick County

9th Place – Building Maintenance

Josh Fisher, Center of Applied Technology North – Anne Arundel County

9th Place – Diesel Equipment Technology

Grady Calhoun, Center of Applied Technology North – Anne Arundel County

9th Place – Food & Beverage Service

Colby Crouse, Frederick County Career & Technology Center– Frederick County

9th Place – Internetworking

Greg Fiumara, Katherine Straub, Frederick County Career & Technology Center– Frederick County

10th Place – Practical Nursing – Post secondary

Sam Ayanleye, Center of Applied Technology North – Anne Arundel County