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March 11, 2021Capital Region BOCES Spotlights Students on International Women’s Day
In honor of International Women’s Day (March 8), Capital Region BOCES is highlighting some of the young women who got their start in our Career & Technical School.
Whether it is in building trades, welding or heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration, the role these women play in these fields is notable. Current Career & Technical School students say they enjoy challenging peoples’ perceptions of what careers they should pursue.
Twins Cora and Isabel Tribunella are both pursuing careers in construction through the Building Trades program at Capital Region BOCES.
“For me, I think it’s important to get out of your comfort zone and one of the reasons I came here is because it’s not typical. Some people come up to me and say, “what are you doing there?’ and other people come up and say ‘that’s so cool’,” said Cora.
“I think it’s great we are not going into a field that people might think we should,” added Isabel.
Building Trades Senior Enid Waring of Schenectady said she couldn’t envision herself being tied to a computer for the rest of her life.
“I prefer hands-on learning. I don’t like to sit at a desk or a computer, I like to actually be doing something… My grandfathers are in construction and I grew up visiting them at their work sites and it just seems right to me.”
For Darielys Maya who aspires to a career as a welder, it’s all about finding the career that is right for her.
“I like hands-on learning and I like to work with heat so this is a good fit,” said the Guilderland junior.
For Niskayuna senior Adrianna Holden, pursuing a career in the Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVAC/R) industry is all about family tradition.
“I went with my dad (who is an HVAC technician) when I was 12 and I have been going ever since,” said Holden. “I like hands-on activities and just doing stuff. It doesn’t bother me being the only girl in the classroom.”
Alumni say they likewise enjoy challenging peoples’ perceptions of what careers they should pursue.
Take for example, class of 2017 graduates Samantha Petrosino from Middleburgh who went on to college to pursue a degree as an underwater welder and Victoria Carl from Voorheesville who went to college for a career as a diesel mechanic and now owns her own business – Carl’s Advanced Automotive & Truck Repair Center.
“BOCES is where I really found my passion. I always worked on cars and that, but BOCES I where I got into trucks and gained knowledge and really solidified what I wanted to do,” said Carl.
Petrosino, who grew up in a family of educators, said she refused to be stereotyped. Besides being one of only a handful of female students in the entire welding program while she was there, she was also a cheerleader.
“It really confuses people. They say, ‘you’re a welder?’ and I tell them ‘yeah, it’s fun.’ They don’t know what to say. It challenges what people think. I love it. Women power all the way,” she said as a senior.
According to Workwave, women in skilled trades are in demand as an untapped resource for skilled workers in trade jobs, as there is a predicted shortage of the labor force and an anticipated growth in job opportunity. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics occupational employment projection expects such employment to grow by 8.4 million jobs.
