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Polytech Students Win Big at SkillsUSA

POLYTECH High School is excited to announce that two students have placed in the top three
at the 2018 SkillsUSA National Championships in Louisville, KY. This annual event brings
together over 6,500 first place winners in more than 100 Career and Technical Skill events from
all 50 states. Robert Bell received the Bronze medal (3rd place) in the Internetworking
competition and Ashish D’Souza received the Gold medal (1st place) in Computer
Programming. Both students are currently juniors at POLYTECH High School and hope to
return to SkillsUSA continue to place in the top students among the nation in 2019. Shown in
the picture are Ashish D’Souza (left), instructor Mr. Dennis Haley (middle), and Robert Bell
(right). Job Ready, Day One! 

  • Ashish D’Souza – What does meaning a goal medal at SkillsUSA mean to you?
          Winning the gold medal at the National SkillsUSA Computer Programming championship was
    the most exciting and rewarding moment in my high school career. I started competing in the
    computer programming competition in my freshman year as a last-minute replacement. I was
    passionate about computer programming, and that led me to win the gold medal in Delaware
    SkillsUSA for three years in a row. My passion alone, however, was not going to win me a
    medal at the national conference; I knew I would need to widen my skills and practice. Thus, I
    talked to various computer science professors to try and improve my abilities, and even learned
    ways to program more efficiently. Finally, winning the gold medal will greatly help me on my
    path towards a career in computer science.
  • Robert Bell – What does winning third place in Internetworking mean to you?
         SkillsUSA was an amazing experience for me. Just having the opportunity to meet people from
    all over the nation was unique in and of itself. The competition was challenging. I’m grateful to
    Polytech and Mr. Haley for the education I have received so far that prepared me so well. I had
    hoped to be in the top 20, so I was excited to see my name for the Bronze medal on the big
    screen! I also received many tools, an Amazon 7 tablet, Cisco equipment, and a $500
    scholarship! The added fun of going to Kentucky Kingdom was the perfect way to end a week
    full of new and fun things. I look forward to participating in next year’s competition. ~Bob Bell, 16
    yrs old, entering senior year.

Evelyn Mazaba-Gonzaga

Delcastle Technical High School

[email protected]

Devin Jones

Delcastle Technical High School

I’m an upcoming senior at Delcastle Technical High School and thrilled to represent Delaware SkillsUSA as a 2026-2027 State Officer. During my service, I seek to encourage more members to get involved in SkillsUSA. My experiences in SkillsUSA have helped me understand how strong leadership can positively influence a team and create opportunities for others to succeed. It is my intention to lead by example, for I believe actions are stronger than words.

[email protected]

Mark Smith

Delcastle Technical High School

I’m going into my junior year at Delcastle Tech. High School, and I’m proud to represent Delaware SkillsUSA as a state officer. I’m happy to serve with my peers, and I hope to expand my knowledge and leave a positive impact on the team. With the skills and experience I gain, I have a goal to run for national office next year. I’m eager to face challenges and create meaningful connections throughout the year. For the 2026-2027 year, I hope to expand understanding of the framework for students involved with SkillsUSA, as the skills in the framework set students up for lifelong-careers.

[email protected]

Bianca Vazquez

Polytech Highschool

I am currently a rising senior at Polytech High School and I am honored to currently be serving as a SkillsUSA state officer. In this chapter I will commit to getting more people involved in Skills and truly make sure people know what SkillsUSA is.This will ensure more people have career readiness towards their future. I am very happy to be representing the state of Delaware and to be gaining knowledge to pass down to my peers.I am grateful for this opportunity and look forward to making a lasting impact within my community.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. [email protected]

Juliette Carman

Polytech Highschool

I am currently a rising senior attending POLYTECH Highschool and it is my first year proudly serving as a Delaware State Officer for SkillsUSA. With this title comes great responsibility, so I will exhaust every effort to make sure I represent and advocate for every career and technical education student in my state. My main goal for the 2026-2027 season is to get more people involved in SkillsUSA. The more students and my chapter can get informed about the goals of our organization, the more people we can help become career-ready individuals in the workforce. I believe some of my most valuable contributions to my team are my problem solving skills and my ability to connect with others and make connections. This responsibility is something that I am very grateful for and will use my passion for SkillsUSA as a foundation of my service.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. [email protected].

Jacob Madden

Polytech Highschool

I  am a rising senior at Polytech High School and currently serve as a Delaware SkillsUSA State Officer, representing career and technical education students across Delaware. In this role, I collaborate with student leaders, educators, and industry partners while strengthening my leadership, public speaking, and teamwork skills. I take pride in representing my peers and helping inspire students to grow personally, professionally, and as future leaders. In addition,I am a hardworking, dedicated, and driven individual with a strong work ethic and a passion for continuous learning. I strive to make a positive impact in every role I take on and am always eager to embrace new challenges, develop new skills, and create meaningful opportunities for growth.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. [email protected].