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June 8, 2022Schoharie-Area Career and Technical Education Students Graduate, Receive Dozens of Awards
Eighty-seven Capital Region BOCES Career and Technical School students from the Schoharie campus received certificates of completion, honors and awards on June 3.
As parents, friends, school and BOCES administrators cheered them on, students from the Schoharie, Berne-Knox-Westerlo, Cobleskill-Richmondville, Schalmont, Voorheesville, Duanesburg, Middleburgh, South Colonie and Sharon Springs school districts were celebrated in a ceremony at Cobleskill-Richmondville High School.
The ceremony marked the completion of one- and two-year programs at the school, including culinary, cosmetology, commercial construction/heavy equipment, criminal justice, electrical trades, residential construction, two-year sequence of health careers and automotive technology.
Speaker after speaker praised the graduates for going above and beyond to secure bright futures.
Capital Region BOCES Senior Executive Officer Joseph P. Dragone, Ph.D. told the students to always pursue happiness and encouraged students to always turn to BOCES if they need assistance.
“You are part of the BOCES family. … We are here forever to help you and your family,” Dragone said.
Meanwhile, Principal Matt Ward encouraged students to appreciate the here and now.
“Take a moment to appreciate the moment today and the hard work you put into accomplishing it,” he told the graduates.
Keynote Speaker, former New York State senator and current President of The Amedore Group George Amedore, told the graduates that the education they received at BOCES has prepared them for a lifetime of success.
“When you can learn and work with your hands, put a little back muscle into it, and keep your mind sharp and educated, you will never go hungry or wanting for work,” he said.
Many of the graduates are going on to college and trade schools; still others are going straight into the workforce thanks to the skills they learned and the connections they made at BOCES.
Among them are Cody Walter of South Colonie and Jeremy Dupont who are currently working part time for J.H. Maloy and will be working full-time upon graduation.
“I learned a lot from my BOCES program and the skills I learned will help me in any work field I go into. I also was able to get a job through BOCES, which is great,” Walter said.
Classmate Nate Bartlett, of Cobleskill-Richmondville, also credits BOCES with preparing for, and helping him get, a great job at the New York State Department of Transportation upon graduation.
“During my time at BOCES I have gained skills that will not only help me in the work field, but skills I will carry with me for the rest of my life. My experience at BOCES has been nothing short of incredible,” said Bartlett. “With the help of my teachers who only look to further my skills and knowledge, I am able to stand here today and speak in front of all of you about how BOCES has changed my life. Capital Region BOCES has changed my life and put me on the road to success.”
Fellow Cobleskill senior Kaitlyn Webb also has a career lined up thanks to her training at BOCES.
“I plan to work in a salon in Cobleskill called Kristy’s Kreations. I already have a booth set up and am currently working there and will continue to. BOCES has taught me people skills – how to handle situations, as well as analyze a client and see what’s best for customers. In short, BOCES has given me a taste of the real world,” said Webb.
During the 90-minute ceremony, dozens of awards were bestowed on students. Below is a listing of the campus-wide awards. Program awards will be announced later this week.
• 3M Transformational Scholarship – Nate Bartlett, Cobleskill-Richmondville, Commercial Construction/Heavy Equipment
• Bryant & Stratton College’s I Believe in You Scholarship – Breanna Powell, Sharon Springs, Criminal Justice
• Capital Region BOCES Culinary 2 Scholarship at SUNY Schenectady – $500 year one, $500 year two – Sophia Coker, Schalmont, Culinary
• Construction/Heavy Equipment Advisory Board Scholarship – Nate Bartlett, Cobleskill-Richmondville, Commercial Construction/Heavy Equipment
• Construction/Heavy Equipment Advisory Board Scholarship – Michael Terrell, Middleburgh, Commercial Construction/Heavy Equipment
• Curtis Lumber Award – Stephen Cote, Schoharie, Commercial Construction/Heavy Equipment
• Ernie Anderson Memorial Scholarship – Michael Schofell, Middleburgh, Automotive Trades
• Joseph N. Fuchs Award – Joseph Bauer, Cobleskill-Richmondville, Culinary Arts and Hospitality Tech
• Outstanding Student of the Year ($100) – Evan Kuhne, Duanesburg, Electrical Trades
• Outstanding Student of the Year ($100) – Kaitlyn Webb, Cobleskill-Richmondville, Cosmetology
• Richard A. Conklin Scholarship Award ($200) – Tristin Diaz, Cobleskill-Richmondville, Commercial Construction/Heavy Equipment
• Schoharie Valley Region AACA Scholarship ($350 gift card) – Rachel Rorick, Sharon Springs, Automotive Trades
• Schoharie Valley Region AACA Scholarship ($350 gift card) – Zachary Hines, Cobleskill-Richmondville, Automotive Trades
• SkillsUSA Award – Chloe-Jean Thomas, Middleburgh, Criminal Justice,
• SUNY Cobleskill Scholarship Match with the Construction/Heavy Equipment Advisory Scholarship – Michael Terrell, Middleburgh, Commercial Construction/Heavy Equipment
• Thomas Olivo Leadership Award – Chloe-Jean Thomas, Middleburgh, SkillsUSA President
Capital Region BOCES Career and Technical School graduations continue on June 7 for the Albany and Center for Advanced Technology at Mohonasen campuses.
