WESTMINSTER – The Dorchester Career and Technology Center Chapter of SkillsUSA flexed its competitive muscles again April 16 as students traveled to Carroll County Career and Technology Center to participate in the Maryland SkillsUSA State Championships in various categories.

Congratulations went to Vernon Price and Dylan Ruppert who, for the second year running, were awarded the gold medal in Robotics and Automation, qualifying them for the national competition to be held this summer in Atlanta, Georgia. Last year, this dynamic duo placed 11th in the SkillsUSA national competition.

Vernon and Dylan are both completers of the Project Lead the Way Engineering course at DCTC and will be graduating this year from North Dorchester High School.

Two other teams from Phil Albert’s PLTW Engineering program also won state medals. Julianne Tobat, Andrew Albert, and their sidekick “Burns” who they built from scratch, were congratulated for picking up the silver medal in Urban Search and Rescue. McKenna Parker and Hailey Mills, who won bronze in Commercial sUAS Drones, were also praised for their success.

Savannah Weber, of the PLTW Biomedical program, won a silver medal for her Health Occupations Portfolio.

North Dorchester sophomore Zachary Bozman was elected as a SkillsUSA Maryland state officer, and the DCTC Chapter earned the Gold Chapter of Distinction designation for the seventh straight year.

Also competing from DCTC in the state championships were Zachary Adam (Residential Wiring); Zachary Bozman, Nathan Corkran, and Alexander Shook (Health Knowledge Bowl); Javier Luna Clemente (Medical Terminology); Haylie Siegel (Baking and Pastry); Taylor Larimer (Job Skill Demo); and Madison Tobat, Cristina Nuvia Lopez, and Ta’Tyana Maradiaga (Career Pathways Showcase – Health Services). Chef Charlene Zinnel is the chapter’s advisor.

A statement from Dorchester County Public Schools said, “Great job, Skills students – we’re very proud of you!”