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May 9, 2019Capital Region BOCES Career and Technical School Students Earn SkillsUSA Gold Chapter Honors
Students at Capital Region BOCES Career and Technical School Albany Campus were awarded the Gold Chapter of Distinction Award by SkillsUSA during the New York State SkillsUSA conference April 24-26 in Syracuse.
SkillsUSA is a professional organization teaching technical, academic and employability skills that help high school and college students pursue successful careers. Members build these skills through student-led charitable acts, leadership conferences and other activities. Students in SkillsUSA participate in hands-on competitions in various fields such as science; technology; engineering; mathematics; building construction; and heating, ventilation and air conditioning.
The Gold Chapter of Distinction Award recognizes the quality of the work the Albany Capital Region BOCES campus chapter does to meet those goals, such as collecting toys for children at Christmas, conducting blood and food drives, sending students to a litany of competitions and preparing students for careers.
“We are very proud of the hard work and diligence our students give to the chapter on a daily basis,” said Debra Toy, an advisor to the chapter.
In order to win the honor, the officers of the Albany chapter collected a copious amount of information and put together an extensive presentation.
Students Brianna Beisly of Berne-Knox-Westerlo and Justin Firstiun of Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk schools, both of whom are enrolled in BOCES’ Two-Year Sequence of Health Careers program, then represented the chapter during the three-day state conference.
“It was a lot of work,” said Firstiun.
“You had to go into detail on everything that was done or happened during events throughout the year,” added Beisly.
Roman Tribunella, an Electrical Trades student from Scotia-Glenville, who helped Beisly and Firstuin put the presentation together said the award is “excellent recognition for all of the good work of the chapter.”
Beisly and Firstuin said they are proud of the award and what it means to the students and Capital Region BOCES.
“It helps to distinguish us against others,” said Firstuin.
“It proves to the state and to everyone that we are doing amazing things,” added Beisly.
