Eighteen students earned medals in 12 different competitions during the SkillsUSA Area IV Regional Competition on Feb. 28, 2026.
The sprawling event welcomed more than 500 student competitors to the Center for Career Services campus, which hosted the competition for a second straight year.
Students from 14 different schools competed in 40 career and technical competitions of a wide variety, including Action Skills, Animal Careers, Culinary Arts, Digital Cinema Production and Nail Care, where SWBOCES students earned first place. A team of Career Services students also took first in the Culinary Quiz Bowl competition.
The competitions were held throughout the day, almost exclusively using facilities on campus. Including spectators, more than 700 people were in attendance.
In the afternoon, students, staff and families gathered for an awards ceremony in the auditorium of Highlands Middle School in White Plains, where eager students were presented with medals for first, second and third-place finishes. Career Services Principal Jaclyn De Lao served as emcee for the ceremony, announced the names of medalists. She also identified recipients of special recognitions; one such honor went to Career Services’ SkillsUSA Advicor Howard Hamilton, who was named an Advisor of the Year.
The students who earned medals in their respective competition will now be eligible to compete in New York’s SkillsUSA Championships from April 22-24 in Syracuse.
View more photos on the SWBOCES Facebook page.