UPTON – The 51st SkillsUSA State Leadership & Skills Conference was held on May 2nd at Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School (BVT). The annual event, hosted by SkillsUSA Massachusetts, welcomed approximately 2,100 district champions and many notable dignitaries. It is an incredible showcase of vocational technical training at its finest.

BVT’s Superintendent-Director Dr. Michael F. Fitzpatrick was honored during the opening ceremonies. The national high school president of SkillsUSA, Kallie Allen of Hopedale, a senior in the Biotechnology program at BVT, presented Dr. Fitzpatrick with the SkillsUSA Massachusetts Honorary Life Member award. It is one of the highest recognitions within the SkillsUSA organization, bestowed upon individuals who have made significant contributions to the development of SkillsUSA and vocational education. He accepted the award on behalf of the district and in memory of Helga “Sunnie” Epstein, a Holocaust survivor and vocational advocate.

BVT's student competitors achieved remarkable results, earning 46 medals: 17 Gold, 17 Silver, and 12 Bronze. Maria Clara De Oliveira of Milford, a sophomore in the Electrical program at BVT was elected as a State Officer for the 2025-2026 school year. These achievements are a testament to the student's hard work and dedication.

The gold medalists earn the right to represent SkillsUSA Massachusetts and compete with champions from all over the country at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, this June. The complete list of medalists is available at www.valleytech.k12.ma.us/skillsusa.

BVT 2025 State Medalists 

BVT students who earned medals at the State Leadership & Skills Conference are listed by hometown:

BELLINGHAM

Silver: Audrey Drons, Promotional Bulletin Board; and Kiele Sarnie, Carpentry.

Bronze: Matthew Skarin, Welding.

BLACKSTONE

Gold: Haley McKinnon, Photography.

Bronze: Mia Delvecchio, Baking & Pastry Arts; and Isabella Olsen, Health Knowledge Bowl.

DOUGLAS

Silver: Ava Austin, Sticker Design; and Devin Drumheller, Mechatronics.

GRAFTON

Gold: Connor McInerney, HVAC/R; and Cooper Often, Mechatronics.

Silver: Amaya Langer, Bio Tech Knowledge Bowl; Robert Lazo, Mechatronics; Daniel Warfield, Electronics; and Ellen Winderbaum, Promotional Bulletin Board.

HOPEDALE

Gold: Ella Foster, Engineering Technology. 

Silver: Evan Griffin, Internetworking; and Christopher Russell, Bio Tech Knowledge Bowl.

Bronze: Gabriella Griffin, Health Knowledge Bowl; and Declan Reilly, Computer Programming.

MENDON

National Voting Delegate: Payton Smith.

Gold: Phoebe Burke, Robotics & Automation Technology; and Payton Smith, Safety Poster Design Team. 

Silver: Kalynn Bellefontaine, Nurse Assisting; and Nathan Lucey, HVAC/R.

Bronze: Leila Leyvas, Health Knowledge Bowl.

MILFORD 

National Voting Delegate & State Officer Elect: Maria Clara De Oliveira.

Gold: Andrew Dolan, Health Occupations Professional Portfolio.

Silver: Ethan Dahmer, Bio Tech Knowledge Bowl.

Bronze: Olivia Guido, Painting & Design Technology; Arianna Turner, Robotics & Automation Tech.

MILLBURY

Gold: Allison Garden, Engineering Technology.

Bronze: Jonathan Tremblay, Diesel Equipment Technology.

NORTHBRIDGE

National Voting Delegate: Bella Baltramaitis.

Gold: Esther Alves, Robotics & Automation Technology; Bella Baltramaitis, Safety Poster Design Team; Steven Caya, Principles of Technology, Zabel Derkosrofian, Telecommunications Cabling; and Autumn Gromelski, Restaurant Service.

Silver: Liliana Carpenter, Restaurant Service; and Olivia Medina, Painting & Design Technology.

Bronze: Sosie Derkosrofian, Medical Terminology.

SUTTON

Gold: Benjamin Hicks, Electronics Technology.

Bronze: Keira Lavine, Robotics & Automation Tech.

UPTON

Gold: Justin Fransen, Mechatronics.

Bronze: Cassidy Lyon, Health Knowledge Bowl.

UXBRIDGE

Gold: Gabrielle Gannon, Engineering Technology. 

Silver: Matteo Lame, Power Equipment Technology; and Abigail Thompson, Promotional Bulletin Board.

About Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School (BVT):

Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School serves the towns of Bellingham, Blackstone, Douglas, Grafton, Hopedale, Mendon, Milford, Millbury, Millville, Northbridge, Sutton, Upton, and Uxbridge. Located in the heart of the Blackstone Valley, BVT creates a positive learning community that prepares students for personal and professional success in an internationally competitive society through a fusion of rigorous vocational, technical, and academic skills.