An LCTI student competes in the Carpentry contest on Wednesday, Jan. 22 at the SkillsUSA Council District 11 Championships in Allentown.
ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Sub-zero temperatures Wednesday (Jan. 22, 2025) led to a delayed start for the SkillsUSA Council District 11 Championships. Still, LCTI’s students wasted no time turning up the heat on their competitors.
They notched 21 medals with technical prowess that impressed judges and wowed spectators who turned out for the 39th annual event. Gold medalists, including 11 from Lehigh Career & Technical Institute, qualified to compete this spring at the SkillsUSA state competition in Hershey.
The championships drew hundreds of participants from seven schools across five counties to the Allentown Fairgrounds Agri-Plex. They competed in individual and team contests of skill ranging from advertising design to welding. Dozens of Lehigh Valley businesses sponsor the competition, which provides opportunities for students to apply what they’ve learned in challenging scenarios that mimic the demands of a 21st-century workplace.
The medalists for each SkillsUSA contest were announced Wednesday evening during a ceremony at Parkland High School. LCTI’s top-three finishers are:
3rd place: Alondra Contreras De Las Cruz, Health Knowledge Bowl – Team
Health & Medical Sciences
2nd place: Elaysha Encarnacion, Nurse Assisting
Health & Medical Sciences
1st place: Anthony Farannte, Carpentry
Carpentry
2nd place: Travis Miller, TeamWorks – Team
Masonry
3rd place: Erick Montesdeoca, Automotive Service Technology
Auto Technology
1st place: Julianna Flores, Crime Scene Investigation – Team
Criminal Justice
3rd place: David Janoski, Mechatronics – Team
Automated Industrial Technology
3rd place: Chase Merchant, Mechatronics – Team
Automated Industrial Technology
2nd place: Nesly Alacron, Culinary Arts
Culinary Arts
1st place: Brynn Clark, Cosmetology
Cosmetology
2nd place: Austin Derr, Electrical Construction Wiring
Electrical Technology
1st place: Jose Figueroa, Automotive Refinishing Technology
Auto Collision Repair Technology
1st place: Brooklyn Hause, Early Childhood Education
Early Childhood Education
1st place: James Leap, Crime Scene Investigation – Team
Criminal Justice
2nd place: Isabella Marrucca-Kodis, First Aid/CPR
Health & Medical Sciences
2nd place: Zachary O’Steen, Criminal Justice – Team
Criminal Justice
1st place: Malachi Martin, Automated Manufacturing – Team
Pre-Engineering & Engineering Technology
1st place: Jonathan Erkinger, Power Equipment Technology
Small Engines/ Recreational Vehicle Repair
2nd place: Gage Simpson, TeamWorks – Team
Carpentry
1st place: Gage Tessitore, Electronics Technology
Electronics Technology
2nd place: Seth Winch, Mechatronics – Team
Automated Industrial Technology
2nd place: Logan Baugher, Welding
Welding Technology
1st place: Jasper Delong, Automated Manufacturing – Team
Precision Machine Tool Technology
2nd place: Joshua Earles, Mechatronics – Team
Automated Industrial Technology
1st place: Owen Rex, Welding
Welding Technology
2nd place: Caden Scheirer, Graphic Communications
Print Technology/Graphic Imaging
2nd place: Rachel Wade, Basic Health Care
Health & Medical Sciences
1st place: Cody Utt, Automated Manufacturing – Team
Precision Machine Tool Technology
3rd place: Rashelly Balcazar Camilo, Health Knowledge Bowl – Team
Health & Medical Sciences
2nd place: Milo Ilchuk, Collision Repair Technology
Auto Collision Repair Technology
2nd place: Connor Keich, CNC 2-Axis turning Programmer
Precision Machine Tool Technology
2nd place: Michael Kurtz, TeamWorks – Team
Electrical Technology
1st place: Robert Lanyon, Diesel Equipment Technology
Diesel Medium & Heavy Truck Technology
3rd place: Nadia-Renae Lawrence, Health Knowledge Bowl – Team
Health & Medical Sciences
3rd place: Isabella Quintero, Early Childhood Education
Early Childhood Education
3rd place: Andrea Smith, Health Knowledge Bowl – Team
Health & Medical Sciences
1st place: Clay Soares, Restaurant Service
Culinary Arts
2nd place: Ryan Steckel, Precision Machining
Precision Machine Tool Technology
3rd place: Julius Vasquez, Plumbing
Plumbing & Heating
2nd place: Levell Warmkessel, TeamWorks – Team
Plumbing & Heating
1st place: Shayla Woodlief-Beard, Crime Scene Investigation – Team
Criminal Justice
3rd place: Nisreen Al-Bajali, Nail Care – Team
Cosmetology
3rd place: Dallas Dohanish, CNC Programmer
Precision Machine Tool Technology
2nd place: Jacob Figueroa, Plumbing
Plumbing & Heating
3rd place: Nylah Hicks, Nail Care – Team (Model)
Cosmetology
3rd place: Cole Vernon, Building Construction
Building Trades
Last year, District 11 sent 96 students to states and 50 of them brought home medals. Fifteen of those medalists competed for a national championship and three of them succeeded. LCTI’s Brayden Arnold was among the three; he won gold for Motorcycle Service Technology.
SkillsUSA is one of eight career and technical student organizations at LCTI. Health & Medical Sciences teacher Heather Mariotti, school counselor Cory Schnaufer and Precision Machine Tool Technology teacher Aaron Schock serve as chapter advisors.
Schnecksville, PA
18078