Several students from the Berks Career & Technology Center (BCTC) earned top national recognition at the 2025 SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference, held this June in Atlanta, Georgia.
The annual competition brings together the top career and technical education students from across the United States, with more than 6,500 participants competing in over 100 career and leadership contests.
Two BCTC students brought home national medals. Owen Heimbach, representing the Daniel Boone Area School District, earned second place in Masonry. Ryan Blankenbiller, from Oley Valley School District, placed third in Automotive Service Technology.
Other BCTC students also achieved strong finishes among a highly competitive field:
- Tyler McConnell (Boyertown) placed 4th out of 39 in Cabinet Making.
- Kyle Hackenberg (Twin Valley) and Dallas Vogelei (Boyertown) placed 6th out of 39 teams in Audio/Radio Production.
- Brandon Lenhart (Brandywine) finished 9th out of 44 in Diesel Technology.
- Julian Collazo (Governor Mifflin), Dylan Ziats (Fleetwood), Tyler Deisher (Fleetwood), and Joshua Ponce (Conrad Weiser) placed 10th out of 22 teams in Entrepreneurship.
- Jayce Iezzi (Schuylkill Valley) placed 16th out of 32 in Computer Programming.
- William Arnholt (Wilson) finished 22nd out of 29 in Internetworking.
Beyond the competition, students had the opportunity to explore Atlanta, visiting landmarks such as Centennial Olympic Park and the Georgia Aquarium. They also took part in team dinners, networking events, and interactive exhibits, helping to build both camaraderie and confidence.
The SkillsUSA National Conference is widely regarded as a premier showcase of the country’s emerging skilled workforce. BCTC students returned home with medals, high rankings, and lasting memories of a week that combined competition, career growth, and new connections.