CTE Bulletin

On April 18, seniors in the OHM BOCES Career and Technical Education (CTE) Construction Trades program displayed their senior projects.

Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES seniors in the Construction Trades Career and Technical Education (CTE) program were recently tasked with making something old become new again for their senior project. Students were given the assignment to produce a unique project that utilizes one or more of the following skills: refinish, repair, reuse, refurbish, repurpose and renew.

The seniors’ work was more than just an application of their learned skills; it also entailed brainstorming, research, vision board creation, proposal writing, cooperative labor, problem solving, ingenuity, critical thinking and showmanship. Some students even tried out new equipment and techniques.

The top three craftsmen earned the gold, bronze and silver hammer awards.

On March 25, CTE)students had the opportunity to hear from a guest speaker who is a veteran and also works to support other veterans and their families.

The OHM BOCES chapter of SkillsUSA invited Terry Finley from Clear Path for Veterans and the Travis Manion Foundation to speak with students about integrity, self-regulation and perseverance. Finley spoke from his experience of more than 20 years in the U.S. Army Special Forces. His message about character traits that are necessary not just in the Special Forces, but also in everyone’s day-to-day lives, resonated with students and allowed them to relate his message to their own experiences.

CTE students were also given a wristband with the motto of the Travis Manion Foundation on it -- “If not me, then who…” The Travis Manion Foundation focuses on assisting veterans and the families of fallen military members to take the next step in their personal journeys and inspiring the next generation of leaders. The wristbands are meant to remind students that it is up to them to do the right thing every day.

More than 400 students across two sessions were able to hear Finley's message.

For the third consecutive year, local radio station Bug Country partnered with seniors in Mr. Racioppa's Advertising Design/Multimedia Productions (ADMP) class. Students were given specific criteria by station executives, and asked to design a logo for their annual Static Sticker contest.

The ADMP students presented initial drafts of their stickers and received feedback from employees of the radio station. The students then used the suggestions to complete their final drafts. Four finalists were chosen, and local listeners will be asked to vote on the Bug Country station webpage for their favorite. The winner's sticker will be produced and, hopefully, spotted on cars throughout the area!

Two New Hartford Central School District seniors in the Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES Career and Technical Education programs were recently announced as recipients of the 2024 President’s Volunteer Service Award, certified by SkillsUSA. Mikeal Hawkins (Welding) was recognized at the gold level of service and Maggie O'Donnell (Automotive Technology) was recognized at the silver level of service.

Founded in 2003 by the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation, the President’s Volunteer Service Award recognizes the important role of volunteers in America’s strength and national identity. The award honors individuals whose service positively impacts communities in every corner of the nation and inspires those around them to take action, too. To be eligible for the award, young adults, ages 16-25, must meet the number of hours designated in a consecutive 12-month period to reach the bronze (100–174 hours), silver (175–249 hours) or gold (250+ hours) levels of service.

“Community service is a big part of what SkillsUSA and our chapter, in particular, are all about,” said John Stratton, OHM BOCES Automotive Technology instructor and SkillsUSA co-advisor. “These students are outstanding examples of the efforts that our students make throughout the year to give back to their community.”

The students will each receive an official lapel pin, personalized certificate of achievement and a congratulatory letter from the president of the United States.

To apply for the award, students documented their volunteer activities and the number of hours served; had them verified by SkillsUSA, which serves as a Certifying Organization for the program; and submitted a letter of nomination from their SkillsUSA advisor along with proof of SkillsUSA membership.

“We are so proud of the altruistic nature of these students and the time and effort they have dedicated to serving others,” said Michael Hoover, OHM BOCES Career and Technical Education Principal. “These behaviors will lead to success regardless of the path they choose after graduation.”

SkillsUSA is a nonprofit partnership of students, teachers and industry professionals working together to offer leadership and citizenship development to complement students’ career and technical education (CTE) skills training. Chapters and their members are also able to participate in local, state and national SkillsUSA competitions.

Career and Technical Education Center (CTEC) programs are typically offered to high school juniors and seniors and focus on preparing students for employment, careers or post-secondary education through the development of 21st century skills. A pillar of the program is the opportunity for students to spend half of their day at an internship site; an experience that two current CTE students found great success in.
Samantha Dawes, a Sauquoit Valley CSD junior, has been cooking with her dad since she was young. Supported by both of her parents, she has the opportunity to practice making a new meal at home every Sunday evening. Currently interning at Nola’s restaurant in the Village of Clinton through the Culinary Arts program at the OHM BOCES, Samantha appreciates working in an authentic restaurant atmosphere surrounded by excellent food. Two days into her internship experience, Samantha received an offer to work at Nola’s, solidifying her impressive work ethic and the positive relationships she had begun forging with the restaurant staff and management. “I’ve always loved taking cooking classes at my home school, Sauquoit Valley CSD, and knew I had to do the Culinary Arts program at BOCES as soon as I heard about it,” Samantha said. “BOCES has helped me raise my overall GPA, since I am participating in something I love doing and working toward my future. I’ve added internships, National Honor Society, SkillsUSA and Student Leadership to my resume all thanks to opportunities through BOCES.”
Justin Goss, a New Hartford CSD senior, was taught by his dad to make artisan bread at the age of 14; the beginnings of a life-long love of baking. Justin’s internship experience was spent at the Tailor and the Cook in Utica. A personal favorite of his family, Justin spent his time assisting with prep work in the kitchen and the experience landed him a job at the Tailor and the Cook, where he’s currently employed. “I’m generally a quiet person,” said Justin. “Being a student at BOCES has taught me to advocate for myself and how to effectively lead a team.”
The learning and real-world experiences of these young professionals are indicative of the types of work-based learning opportunities that are available through CTE programs at the OHM BOCES.

On April 18, students in the Welding program practiced with the AugmentedArc® Augmented Reality Welding System, which stimulates multiple welding processes into a unique, augmented reality environment. The System is a highly realistic multiprocess welding simulation solution for classroom training.

Career and Technical Education Center programs focus on preparing students for employment, careers or post-secondary education through the development of technical and 21st-century skills. Working with state-of-the-art equipment, students apply theory and knowledge to a wide range of real life work assignments in shops and laboratories. In addition to technical skills, students learn critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, communication, positive employment attitudes, job seeking skills, familiarization with related career opportunities and college readiness.

Email: mhoover@oneida-boces.org

Website: https://www.oneida-boces.org
Location: 4747 Middle Settlement Road, New Hartford, NY, USA
Phone: 315-793-8666
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