Billerica, MA – Students from Shawsheen Valley Technical High School returned from the SkillsUSA National Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, with exceptional accomplishments, marking a historic milestone for both the school and the state of Massachusetts. Despite a challenging start to their journey, senior Cole Kelley made history by securing his third consecutive gold medal in the HVACR competition, becoming the first student in Shawsheen history—and the first in the Massachusetts SkillsUSA chapter—to achieve this remarkable distinction.
“We took 16 students to the SkillsUSA National Conference and returned with five national medals—two gold and three silver,” said co-advisor Heidi Lloyd. “It’s an incredible accomplishment, especially considering the obstacles the students faced.”
Featured Image: Shawsheen Tech’s SkillsUSA national competitors. Back row (L-R): Isaac Schmidt, Jonathan Hureau, Cole Kelley, Alyssa Costantiello, Nick Palmerino, Isabella Luis, Methun Thayaaparan, Gianna Caruso, and Celia Vindice. Front row (L-R): Ava Ferreira, Autumn Halas, Jasmine Johansen, Kylie Plowman, Addison Dunham, Kylie McLaughlin, and Nicole Hatch
The team’s trip began with an unexpected challenge when they missed their flight out of Boston, forcing last-minute travel changes. Some students had just five hours between landing and competing. “Our students showed incredible resilience,” Lloyd said. “They practiced in the airport and made the best of a tough situation.”
Despite these setbacks, Shawsheen’s students excelled in nine competitions over four event-filled days. Their hard work and dedication were rewarded with top honors in several categories.
Shawsheen’s national medalists include:
- Cole Kelley – Gold Medal in HVACR (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration)
- Jasmine Johanson – Gold Medal in Nurse Assisting
- Alyssa Costantiello – Silver Medal in Basic Health Care
- Jonathan Hureau – Silver Medal in CNC Milling Specialist
- Isaac Schmidt – Silver Medal in CNC Turning Specialist
Cole Kelley’s third national gold medal in HVACR is a landmark achievement, making him the first-ever Shawsheen student to win three consecutive national gold medals in any competition. He is also the first in Massachusetts history to win three national golds in HVACR and the third individual to achieve a “three-peat” in the state’s SkillsUSA history. His dedication and consistent performance have brought immense pride to Shawsheen Valley Technical High School and the Massachusetts SkillsUSA chapter.
“Attending this year’s National Conference and personally witnessing Cole Kelley earning his third straight national gold medal is one of the most impactful moments of my twenty-four year career in vocational-technical education,” said Superintendent Tony McIntosh.
This year also marked the debut of Shawsheen’s Advanced Manufacturing program at the national level, sending two students for the first time. Impressively, both students who competed earned silver medals in their competition category, an impressive achievement for the program’s first showing.
In addition to the medalists, all of Shawsheen’s competitors had strong performances. Autumn Halas placed 4th in Masonry, and Isabella Luis ranked 9th out of 20 in Graphic Communications. The Health Knowledge Bowl Team, composed of Addison Dunham, Nicole Hatch, Kylie Plowman, and Kylie McLaughlin, finished 9th out of 28 teams. The Entrepreneurship Team, made up of juniors Gianna Caruso, Ava Ferreira, Nicolas Palmerino, and Celia Vindice, placed 17th out of 30 with their innovative business model for a college-life app, showing great promise for next year.
“I am continually impressed by the skill, expertise, and success our students display, particularly at SkillsUSA competitions,” said Vocational Director David Norkiewicz.
During their time in Atlanta, the Shawsheen SkillsUSA chapter also participated cultural excursions, including visits to the Football Hall of Fame, the Champions Festival, and local music and cultural events.
A heartfelt congratulations goes out to all 16 Shawsheen students who competed, each of whom ranked number one in Massachusetts qualifying them for the national competition. Their hard work and perseverance have not only earned them national recognition but have also set a new standard of excellence for Shawsheen Valley Technical High School.
About SkillsUSA:
SkillsUSA is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to preparing students for careers in trade, technical, and skilled service occupations. It empowers students by fostering the development of personal, workplace, and technical skills through competitions at both the state and national levels.
About Shawsheen Valley Regional Vocational School District
Established in 1965, Shawsheen Valley Regional Vocational Technical School District (SVRVTSD) is a student-centered public institution serving the five member towns of Billerica, Bedford, Burlington, Tewksbury, and Wilmington. Shawsheen Valley Technical High School serves more than 1,300 students in grades 9-12 and is “Dedicated to Excellence in Education”, integrating academics with more than 20-vocational-technical career pathways.
Shawsheen is located in Billerica, MA on a sprawling 100-acre campus. The school building features state-of-the-art facilities and athletic fields, twenty-four varsity sports, and dozens of extra-curricular clubs and activities. All of Shawsheen’s faculty and staff are committed to the mission “to provide a positive learning experience in a safe educational environment that encourages all students to reach their full potential, emphasizes the value of a strong work ethic, and prepares them for adult life in a competitive world.”
Shawsheen Valley Regional Vocational Technical School District also provides high-quality educational programming for youths and adults through Adult Education, Afterschool Exploratory Programs, Community Events, and Summer Camps and Enrichment Programs. Shawsheen is consistently working to increase its rich and varied programming opportunities for the community, which supports its mission that education is a lifelong, continuous process with many paths to living a successful and fulfilling life.
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