Washingtonville students earn top honors at SkillsUSA Regional Competition

Congratulations to the Washingtonville High School students who earned recognition at the 2026 SkillsUSA Area IV Regional Competition, showcasing the skills they’ve developed through Orange-Ulster BOCES Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs.

The competition brought together more than 500 students from 14 schools to compete in technical fields such as carpentry, cosmetology, animal careers, heavy equipment operation, digital cinema and much more!

WHS Junior Craig Brown earned first place in carpentry, where competitors were tasked with measuring, marking and cutting structural components based on detailed plans.

“For the carpentry competition, we had three different pieces that we had to measure, mark and cut,” he explained. “You have to understand the math, calculate where the cuts need to be and make them accurately.”

Projects included laying out a roof rafter, framing stairs and creating a wall layout. Since projects aren’t communicated until the day of the competition, Craig relied on the experience he gained through the program.

“You can’t really study for it because you don’t know what plans you’ll get,” he said. “But through working on projects in class, you learn the process and how to frame things out.”

WHS Senior Ryan Taylor placed third in the heavy equipment competition, where students operated machinery including a skid steer, excavators and a backhoe through a series of technical challenges.

One event required competitors to drive a skid steer through a cone course while balancing a bucket of water on a pallet without spilling it or knocking tennis balls off the cones.

“You had to stay really focused and controlled the whole time,” Ryan said.

One of Ryan’s proudest moments came when he successfully completed a difficult backhoe challenge that had tripped him up in the past.

“I struggled with the backhoe last year,” he said. “But this year I got lucky and the ball bounced right into the tube.”

For both Ryan and Craig, their CTE programs are helping prepare them for life after graduation.

Ryan plans to join a union after high school and is interested in pursuing a career operating heavy equipment. While Craig hopes to major in business and eventually work his way up to managing construction projects.

Also representing WHS at the competition was senior Mason Pixley, who earned third place in digital cinema.

Students who placed at the regional level may advance to the New York State SkillsUSA Leadership and Skills Championships, which will be held April 22–24 in Syracuse.

Congratulations, Craig, Ryan and Mason!