Alyssa Casatelli placed sixth in the country at SkillsUSA Nationals in Kentucky.
Alyssa Casatelli recently competed at SkillsUSA Nationals in Louisville, Kentucky. She joins dozens of Questar III students to finish in the top three in New York State and qualify for the national competition. In Louisville, she finished sixth for Job Skills Demo Open, where she presented a braided flower updo hairstyle. Alyssa is a 2016 graduate of Columbia High School and the Rensselaer Educational Center Cosmetology program.
“Finishing my senior year placing sixth in the country was an indescribable feeling! Mrs. Baron, Mrs. Mills, Mr. Tishy, Mrs. Bonafed and Mrs. Shurburn constantly gave me tips and helpful tactics to help improve my performance.”
Lisa Baron taught Alyssa for two years at REC and said the experience of seeing one of her students excel was incredible.
“Seeing Alyssa take a placement in the top 10 was amazing for me. I am so very proud of her. Alyssa is a confident, talented young lady and I knew she could do it. I’m sure Alyssa will forever remember the life experience of having competed at the national level as will I and we are both very grateful for this truly wonderful experience.”
Work-based learning coordinator Teresa Mills said Alyssa represented both REC and Columbia High School well, and that through SkillsUSA, she further developed skills that will help her be a leader.
“SkillsUSA is a Leadership organization. Students that join want to be leaders. They have to work hard to compete at any level. It takes not only hard work, but drive and determination along with support of teachers, advisers, parents and others to make the students successful. Alyssa worked tirelessly to prepare for this competition and it showed,” said Mills.
Ms. Mills worked with Ms. Baron to help Alyssa prepare for the competition by rehearsing her presentation and working with her on language skills, poise, connecting with her audience and letting her “bright, bubbly personality” show through.
Baron also says it wasn’t just the competition Alyssa excelled at.
“State pins were a big commodity at Nationals. Every state in the country had a represented pin. The 6,000 students there would trade their state pin with other students for different state pins. Some of these pins were very hard to get and certain states were very much wanted like Navajo Nations, Alaska, Puerto Rico! I have to tell you Alyssa is such a great networker she collected every State pin except Hawaii and that was very hard to do!”
Alyssa works at Studio1 Hair Designers in East Greenbush as a stylist- a promotion she received less than a week after graduation. She has been employed there part-time since last fall.
SkillsUSA is a national organization for high school students enrolled in career and technical education programs such as cosmetology, carpentry and automotive mechanics.
Questar III CTE programs have a history of success at the regional, state and national level. In fact, a Questar III student has placed in the top three in the state for the past 12 years.
Congratulations, Alyssa!
