West Islip High School senior Justin Anderson earned first place in the HVAC competition at the 60th anniversary New York State SkillsUSA Leadership and Skills Conference, securing a spot at the national competition this June in Atlanta.

Anderson, who attends the BOCES Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning program, competed against top students from across New York State during the three-day event from April 22-24. Participants were challenged through both a rigorous industry-level competency exam and a demanding 10-station practical assessment designed to test technical skill, precision and problem-solving abilities.

Throughout the competition, Anderson demonstrated advanced knowledge and hands-on expertise in a variety of HVAC-related tasks, including welding and bending metal, testing equipment for environmental pollutants, and adjusting and certifying refrigeration units. The competition required students to apply multiple industry concepts simultaneously in real-world scenarios.

“Justin absolutely crushed it at the competition,” instructor Nick DeBlanco said. “He is confident, capable and caring, and we are incredibly proud of his accomplishments. I expect he’s going to do very well on the national stage.”

By earning first place in the HVAC category, Anderson qualified to represent New York State at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference from June 1-5 in Atlanta, where he will compete against students from across the country.
The district congratulates him on this outstanding achievement and wishes him continued success at the national competition.