Oliver Wolcott Technical High School Electronics Technology Student Wins 3rdPlace Bronze in National Competition!

Lucas Chaponis is a Junior Electronics Technology student at Oliver Wolcott Technical High School located in Torrington, CT; and will be a senior next school year. Lucas is a member of SkillsUSA, a national student leadership organization connecting students, business and industry together to ensure a skilled workforce. In January, Lucas was selected from his school using a qualifying test to compete in the annual SkillsUSA State Leadership Skills Conference. Held at the end of March, Lucas won the state Electronics Technology competition (held virtually with hands on components) and earned the right to represent Connecticut in the National Leadership Skills Conference.

Due to COVID, the national competition was held virtually this year with local hands-on technical skills and projects. Typically, the competition would be held in Atlanta, GA. During the week of June 16th, Lucas competed against students from not only the 49 other states, but also students from Guam, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, and the Navajo Nation as well. After competing all week, with 5 technical knowledge tests, and 3 hands on competency skill tests, Lucas was awarded Thursday evening during a virtual conference a 3rd Place Bronze Medal in Electronics Technology. Lucas brought home the Bronze Medal representing himself, Oliver Wolcott Technical High School, and the Connecticut Technical Education and Career System. According to Royal Allard IV, Electrical Department Head at Oliver Wolcott, this is the first time a student has placed in the top 3 in the national Electronics Competition from the school.

Lucas, a Watertown resident who is 16, has lived in the Litchfield county area his entire life. Before competing and ending the 2020-2021 school year, Lucas has recently accepted employment at Altek Electronics though their Work Based Learning Program (WBL).