Sheridan students win two medals at Skills Ontario competition

Sheridan students took home two medals at the closing ceremony of the Skills Ontario Competition, held earlier this month. 

Hosted at the Toronto Congress Centre from May 1 to 3, the Skills Ontario Competition spotlights the skilled trades and technologies as viable, first-choice career options for Ontario Youth. Over three days, the annual event draws 20,000 attendees, including 2,000 postsecondary students competing in 68 categories. This year, Sheridan had 19 student competitors qualify for the competition.    

In the Photography category, third-year Bachelor of Photography student Drew Bertoia (pictured, left) earned a silver medal. She will be moving forward to compete in the national Skills Canada competition in Winnipeg at the end of the month. 

Photography professor Rafael Goldchain worked with Bertoia in the lead up to competition and was by her side for its duration. 

“We are all proud of Drew for her stellar performance at Skills Ontario,” he said. “I would like to thank Drew for her enthusiasm and commitment to representing Sheridan, and for being an exemplary student in the program. We look forward to seeing Drew excel in her last year at Sheridan and in her future professional career.” 

“My experience with Skills Ontario was incredible,” added Bertoia. “I was introduced to so many new and incredibly talented people in the skilled trades. It is a rare opportunity that I am thankful to have been a part of.” 

In the Architectural Technology and Design category, Marcus Peralta (pictured, right) was awarded a bronze medal. Grazia Aquino, a professor in the Architectural Technology program at Sheridan, served as his mentor in the weeks leading up to the competition. 

“I extend my heartfelt appreciation to Marcus for his commitment and contributions to his studies where he has been an excellent student,” Aquino said. “His accomplishments serve as a testament to his dedication and hard work. We at Sheridan are immensely proud of him.”  

“Ontario Skills was a great challenge of time management, drawing accuracy and overall design,” added Peralta. “Earning third place was amazing, and I could not have done it without all the support of my fellow Sheridan competitors and Sheridan staff. 

Elsewhere at the competition, Sheridan displayed various projects at its exhibitor booth, including an Electrical Trainor, a CNC Circuit Milling Machine and a racetrack operated by a hand crank. Attendees could participate in building a 3D-printed house or receive chocolate squares dispensed by a robotic arm.  

The Skills Ontario judging committee awarded Sheridan with second place in its Large Booth category.   

Lindsay Engel, Dean of the Faculty of Applied Science and Technology, was proud to see Sheridan’s success in the competition as well as the student engagement in the exhibitor booth.  

“Year after year, Sheridan continues to exemplify innovation, creativity and student success in skills development,” she said. “I am so proud of the faculty, staff and students who spent countless hours preparing for this competition.”