The Peru Gazette

L-R Owen Fuller, Zoee Corrigan

Zoee’s campaign bracelet

By John T Ryan

Plattsburgh, NY  CV-TEC students recently returned from the April 23-25 New York State Skills USA competition with three state championships and ten medals. Peru High School juniors Zoee Corrigan and Owen Fuller were among them. Zoee Corrigan won 1st Place in the NYS Officer at Large Competition, and Owen Fuller finished second in the Automotive Service Technology competition. When the students arrived back from Syacuse,  a large crowd of well-wishers lined the CV-TEC driveway.

Nicole Santaniello, CV-TEC’s Lead Skills USA advisor, described the program, “Skills USA is a national student-led career education program. Adults guide the students and help bring their ideas to life. It emphasizes career skills, but “soft sklls” such as flexibility, teamwork and adaptability are also part of the program. We work for a well-rounded student with community service opportunities, fundraising, and competitions.”

In March, Zoee Corrigan and and Owen Fuller were among 450 students who competed in the regional Skills USA competition in Albany; neither one won, but it gave them the experience they needed at the state level competition.

Campaigning for office was part of competing for the Officer at Large title. Zoee explained, “I’ve been campaigning since March. I handed out bracelets, made campaign materials and a display board, answered randomized questions, and gave a speech.”

Advisor Nicole Santaniello stated, “We haven’t had anyone compete for a state officer position in at least twenty years. Zoee is very strong and passionate about Skills USA. Her speech in Syracuse was very, very good, and her win was exciting for our school. In June, she’ll compete in the national competition in Atlanta. There she’ll participate in leadership training and mingle with other students. They’ll get to know one another and choose who will be in next year’s leadership positions.

Regarding Owen Fuller, Santaniello said, “Owen has only participated in Skills USA for about seven months. Many of the other competitors were seniors or went to comprehensive schools, where they participated for four years. Owen’s 2nd place finish demonstrated his natural talent and how good our teachers are.” Stephen Bassett is Owen’s Automotive Technology teacher at CV-TEC.

Owen Fuller talked about the Skills USA experience. “I came in third at regionals, I’m happy I beat the same people at States. I won a $8,000 scholarship to attend the University of Northwest Ohio, $7,500 at Ohio Tech, and $5,000 at Lincoln Welding. I enjoy being able to work on different vehicles and fixing problems.” Owen plans to attend the University of Northwest Ohio.”

Zoee Corrigan is the daughter of Robert and Michelle Corrigan.   Owen Fuller is the son of Ronald Fuller and Linda Robertson.

Editors Note – I truly enjoyed interviewing Zoee and Owen. They were engaging, articulate, respecful and very happy. Thank you Principal Matt Berry for arranging the interview.