News
September 20, 2023National Grid Event Energizes Capital Region BOCES Students
More than 500 Capital Region BOCES Career & Technical Education Center students – nearly one-half of the student body – toured and learned at the National Grid Schenectady headquarters on Friday, Sept. 16, as part of the company’s Touch a Truck and Career Day.
Students visited more than a dozen stations where National Grid workers showcased their skills and guided them through exercises ranging from handling live wires to operating heavy equipment. The students from the Schoharie and Albany campuses also learned about the variety of careers National Grid hires workers for and how their training in BOCES’ Electrical Trades, Building Trades, Heavy Equipment, HVAC/R, Network Cabling Technician/Smart Home Technology and Automotive Trades Technology programs make them viable candidates to fill those jobs.
Students said they enjoyed the event and are interested in building their futures with National Grid.
“There’s a lot of nice equipment here, and I’m looking into the electric field. It’s what I want to do,” said Adrian Lindemann, a senior in the Electrical Trades program from Schoharie.
Ashley Moorhead, a senior from Middleburgh in the Heavy Equipment Operation, Maintenance & Repair program, said she plans to work for National Grid when she graduates high school.
“National Grid sounds like a good place to work. I already know a lot of people that work for them. It’s close to home, offers good pay and National Grid is family-oriented,” Moorhead said.
That reaction is exactly what National Grid leadership hoped to hear.
“We are developing green-collar jobs. We need programs like this to ensure we have the workforce necessary to accomplish those goals,” said Brian Sano, Regional Director of National Grid, during a recent tour of the BOCES Albany Campus.
Nancy Liddle, BOCES Managing Program Coordinator – Business and Community Partnerships, said National Grid is a valuable partner for BOCES and is important for the future of students.
“We appreciate our continued business partnership with National Grid and their willingness to work with Capital Region BOCES and our students. Our programs and students continue to grow because of National Grid’s expertise, knowledge and contributions,” she said.
National Grid is among 300 businesses, educational institutions, professional organizations and unions that Career & Technical School partners with to provide educational and career opportunities for students.
