Malverne residents Chris Aresta and Douglas Bell placed third at the New York State SkillsUSA spring conference in Syracuse on April 26.
The conference was for Job Skill Demonstration A where contestants demonstrate and explain an entry-level skill used in the occupational area for which they are training.
On April 25, Aresta gave a five- to seven-minute speech and job demo to a panel of judges.
During his speech, Aresta showed the judges how a field sobriety test is given. Bell was his assistant and stood in as the suspect, following the commands given by Aresta.
There were 45 contestants from all over New York State that the duo competed against.
After the first round of 45 students, the judges chose the top 10. Aresta and Bell made the cut and had to do their demonstration again for the judges.
The next day at the award ceremony, the two Malverne residents were awarded bronze medals for third place. They also received an annual $1,000 scholarship to the Pennsylvania College of Technology (renewable for four years).
On May 23, Aresta and Bell are invited to the Nassau BOCES Board meeting for a recognition ceremony.
Aresta and Bell are both Malverne residents and are 11th graders at Valley Stream North High School. They also attend Joseph M. Barry Career and Technical Education Center, located in Westbury.
Aresta is a police science and criminal justice major and Bell is a welding major at Barry Tech, which they attend everyday for half of their school day. These are two-year courses that offer students college credits upon completion.
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