Students from across the district displayed their knowledge and abilities at the 2016 state SkillsUSA competition, March 31 to April 2 in Tacoma, Washington. They earned a total of 25 medals. In addition, four VPS students were elected to the state officer team; awards of excellence were given to three chapters; and 12 students qualified for the National Leadership and Skills Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, in June.

Congratulations to the following:

Fort Vancouver High School

  • Silver in Chapter of Distinction
  • Toni Pridemore, Edgar Ramirez and Jordan Mohr, state officers (Pridemore and Ramirez will attend nationals as voting delegates.)
  • Pridemore, silver in Creed
  • Katy Parker, silver in Commercial Baking
  • Ashley Flowers, bronze in Commercial Baking
  • Christian O’Crotty, bronze in Culinary Arts
  • Cameron Wells, silver in Medical Terminology
  • Savannah Seifert, bronze in Medical Terminology
  • Timothy Flatin, bronze in Screen Printing
  • Joymae Capps, gold in T-Shirt Design (national qualifier)
  • Alberto Benitez, silver in T-Shirt Design

Their advisers are Michael Wade, David Finnie, Dave Angell and Chad Young.

Hudson’s Bay High School

  • Abigail Gaynor, silver in American Sign Language
  • Emily Donnelly-Horn, gold in Extemporaneous Speaking (national qualifier)
  • Nathaniel Adams and Nate Steinauer, silver in Television (Video) Production

Their advisers are Danna Claborn and Randy Howard.

Columbia River High School

  • Quality Chapter Award
  • Jonah Leavitt, Nick Ayres, Josi Bellinger and Ricardo Arriola, silver in Broadcast News Production
  • Sara Blackwell, Mitchell Chipman, Kaitlyn Kukula and Hashim Nelson, bronze in Broadcast News Production
  • Blackwell, Ryan Keller, Adam Castellani-Kelsay, Colin Newton and Spencer Crabb, gold in Quiz Bowl (national qualifiers)

Their adviser is Janine Blackwell.

Vancouver School of Arts and Academics

  • Gold in Chapter of Distinction
  • Megan Bina, state officer
  • Trillian Vieira, bronze in American Sign Language
  • Madison Ball, Bina, Gretchen Cope and Ana Stoumbos, gold in Broadcast News Production (national qualifiers)
  • Anna Guardado, gold in Creed
  • Joe Beuselinck and Emma Josephson, bronze in Digital Cinema Production
  • Josephson, bronze in Job Interview and bronze in Pin Design
  • Natalie Farness, bronze in Job Skills Demonstration Open and silver in Pin Design
  • Stoumbos, gold in Prepared Speech
  • Beuselinck, Bina, Guardado, Stoumbos, Scott Yonek and Max Zabell, silver in Quiz Bowl (will attend nationals)

Their adviser is Andy Berhow.

Skyview High School/Clark County Skills Center

  • Ryan Stankye, silver in Information Technology Service

SkillsUSA prepares students for a variety of career fields while building their leadership and teamwork skills, self-confidence and character.

(Pictured above, from left: Adam Castellani-Kelsay, Ryan Keller, Colin Newton, Spencer Crabb and Sara Blackwell, Columbia River High School; Madison Ball, adviser Andy Berhow, Megan Bina and Ana Stoumbos, Vancouver School of Arts and Academics; and Emily Donnelley-Horn, Hudson’s Bay High School.)