The Orleans/Niagara BOCES’ Diesel Technology students Nick Trifiletti (Starpoint) and Erica Smith (Starpoint) recently represented the Niagara Career and Technical Education Center at the 5th annual Diesel Technology Competition at Pennsylvania College of Technology on December 13th. Teacher Wes Blidy says Nick and Erica were ranked in the top 30 of all career and technology students in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut and New York with some of the students enrolled in three- and four-year programs. “I am beyond proud of Erica and Nick,” he says. “They both learned some valuable lessons and this helped to prepare them for future competitions.”
In order to compete, both students had to complete an online exam. Erica placed first and Nick placed third of all the contestants. At the actual hands-on competition, Erica was awarded first place in Hydraulic Components in a competition hosted by Hoover Kubota, first place on Wheels and Tires hosted by Watsontown Trucking Company and fourth place overall. Nick took second place on the Liner Protrusion Station competition hosted by Pennsy Supply, Inc., second place on the Liftgate Station, hosted by Bergey’s Truck Center and was awarded third place on the Sealants Station hosted by Permatex and second place overall for the competition. Nick was also the recipient of $7,500 scholarship to the Pennsylvania College of Technology and $300 in cash.
“There was a total of 17 CTE and career training centers (CTC) that attended the competition,” says Blidy. “Orleans/Niagara BOCES received second place thanks to Erica’s and Nick’s combined score of 1,390 points. The first-place team had 1,423 points. The competition was about eight hours long and I am grateful that my students had the opportunity to attend. I am hopeful that this will be a something my students can attend yearly.”