EASTERN Students Win Big at SkillsUSA State Competition

Seventeen students from Eastern Center for Arts and Technology (EASTERN) in Willow Grove competed in their skill areas or with their leadership proficiency at the SkillsUSA State Competitions held April 9, 10 and 11 at the Hershey Convention Center. Students from all over Pennsylvania took part in the competition. Gold medal winners will represent EASTERN at the national-level competitions to be held June 23 - 27 in Kansas City, Missouri. SkillsUSA is a national student leadership organization that encourages students to be productive individuals in our democratic society, work to their potential, become responsible, be proud of their accomplishments and supportive of their community. Medalists from EASTERN include:

Gold Medal Winners – Automotive Refinishing Technology – Matthew Shilling, EASTERN Collision Repair Technology/Upper Moreland High School senior.  Chapter Display – EASTERN Commercial Art students, Alicia Dredge, a Hatboro-Horsham High School senior, Robin Gabage, a Jenkintown High School junior, and Kevin Koerner, a Springfield High School junior.  Pin Design – Nicole Hetzel, EASTERN Commercial Art/Upper Moreland High School junior. Pennsylvania State Pin Design – Gabrielle Godorecci, EASTERN Commercial Art/Upper Moreland High School senior.

Silver Medal Winners – Health Occupational Professional Portfolio – Jessica Dranzik, EASTERN Allied Health/Lower Moreland High School senior. Promotional Bulletin Board  – EASTERN Commercial Art students, Nydia Broomer, an Abington High School junior, Anthony Penecale, a Cheltenham High School junior, and Elizabeth Trea, an Upper Moreland High School senior.

Bronze Medal Winners – Employment Application Process - Job Placement Readiness– Samuel Steiner, EASTERN Computer Network Administration/Wordsworth Academy senior.  Fire Fighting – Daniel Biddle, EASTERN Protective Services/Springfield High School senior.  Job Skills Demonstration A – Donovan Calhoun, EASTERN Culinary Arts/Upper Dublin High School senior.

State Wide Officer 2014 -2015 – Anita Gallagher, EASTERN Commercial Art/Abington High School junior, has been selected as 2014 – 2015 State Wide Officer.

Rex Wright Scholarship Recipient – Ashley Hoover, EASTERN Commercial Art/ Hatboro-Horsham High School senior, received second place for the SkillsUSA Rex Wright Scholarship for students pursuing post-secondary education in their vocational field of study. She will receive $750 paid directly to Johnson & Wales University in Providence, RI.

Several EASTERN students at the competition were delegates for Anita Gallagher to assist her in her mission to become elected as State Officer.  The student delegates included Anthony Davis, EASTERN Collision Repair Technology/Cheltenham High School junior, Ashley Hoover, EASTERN Commercial Art/ Hatboro-Horsham High School senior, Jackson Kramer, EASTERN Commercial Art/Jenkintown High School junior, and Jonathan Mehrman, EASTERN Collision Repair Technology/Upper Moreland High School senior.

EASTERN is a public school serving students in Eastern Montgomery County school districts. Those districts include Abington, Bryn Athyn, Cheltenham, Hatboro-Horsham, Jenkintown, Lower Moreland, Springfield, Upper Dublin and Upper Moreland. Students benefit from specialized career programs that give them a competitive edge in college or in a career.  The campus is located at 3075 Terwood Road in Willow Grove. For more information, please contact Amy Shields, Organizational Advancement Director at 215-784-4806, or visit the school’s website at .  To become a fan on Facebook, please visit www.facebook.com/EasternCenter. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @EasternCenter.

Photo courtesy of Samuel Steiner – Chapter Display