CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. – Post-secondary and high school students from Charlotte Technical College (CTC) traveled to Sarasota last week to compete in the SkillsUSA Regional Competition, proudly representing their school and programs. Their hard work and dedication paid off, as they returned home with a total of ten medals across multiple categories.

Students competing in Information Technology Services took top honors, with Josue Cruz, Chapter Secretary, (Post-Secondary Division) and Ryan Herr (High School Division) earning gold in their respective competitions. Käal Mocanu secured the silver medal in Internetworking.

In Digital Design, DaVida Booth, Chapter President, received silver for T-shirt Design, while Rowen Caruso earned a bronze medal for Pin Design all within the Post-Secondary Division.

The Culinary Arts competitors excelled as well, with Ayden Brady (Post-Secondary Division) and Taylor Agueros (High School Division) both earning gold medals. Naomi Aviles also took home the gold in Baking Arts (Post-Secondary Division). All of these medalists will now advance to the SkillsUSA State Competition in Jacksonville on April 28, 2025.

Additionally, Tim Petit-Frere (Post-Secondary Division) and Luciano Lopez (High School Division) earned bronze medals for Culinary Arts. While their placement does not qualify them for the state competition, their achievements at Regionals remain a source of pride.

"Our students continue to raise the bar, demonstrating the skills, professionalism, and perseverance needed to succeed in today’s workforce. The accomplishments at SkillsUSA highlight the strength of Charlotte Technical College and the importance of hands-on learning experiences. Congratulations to all the competitors," states Superintendent of School Mark Vianello.

Other competitors included Carl Dorsainvil (Internetworking – Post-Secondary Division) and James Ooley and Mathew Shapovalov (Automotive Service Technology). Though these students did not place, they gained valuable hands-on experience and networking opportunities with local businesses.

Charlotte County Public Schools and Charlotte Technical College commend all competitors for their hard work and success. Their passion, skill, and perseverance exemplify the high standards of both CTC and CCPS.

“The success of our Charlotte Technical College students at the SkillsUSA Region 6 Competition reflects their hard work, passion, and the strength of our career and technical education programs. These students are gaining real-world skills that will set them up for success beyond the classroom. We are incredibly proud of their achievements and excited to see them compete at the state level," states School Board Member Cara Reynolds.

 

From left to right: Ryan Herr, Carl Dorsainvil, Käal Mocanu, Taylor Agueros, Luciano Lopez

Bottom row: Rowen Caruso, Josue Cruz, Naomi Aviles, Ayden Brady, Tim Petit-Frere

Left: DaVida Booth

Right: James Ooley & Matthew Shapovalov