Capital Region BOCES National Signing Day is a Success

Area Students Sign Letters of Intent to Work with Area Employers

ALBANY -- The annual Capital Region BOCES National Signing Day was a success with 32 high school and adult education students signing letters of intent and a crowd of more than 180 business, family, labor and education supporters watching.

During a ceremony on Tuesday at the Career & Technical Education (CTE) Center – Albany Campus, dignitaries celebrated the students as well as the valuable role BOCES plays in preparing students to become contributing members of society and the workforce.

“The work done here at BOCES and CTE is amazing. It … puts students on the road to great success,” New York State Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said. 

She went on to say that Signing Day highlighted the “indisputable proof of the success of partnership in fueling the essential workforce pipeline.”

The Capital Region BOCES event was affiliated with the SkillsUSA National Signing Day, which mirrors the NCAA’s National Signing Day for athletes who commit to play sports in college. It is designed to honor students who are entering a technical field and to celebrate the dignity of work.

Among those speaking at the event were Karen Swain, Assistant District Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction at Capital Region BOCES; Katie Newcombe, Chief Economic Development Officer, Center for Economic Growth (CEG); Brian Williams, Executive Director, Capital Region Workforce Development Board; and Mike Russo, President and CEO of the National Institute for Innovation and Technology.

Swain thanked the partners, parents and educators on hand.

“Through your unwavering support, your child has reached this milestone,” she told parents, while praising the business and labor partners for “opening your doors to our students and helping bridge the gap between school and the workforce.”

Newcombe also highlighted the value of the education-business partnership.

“Partnerships with industry [such as those highlighted at Signing Day] will drive our regional economy forward,” Newcome said.

Rich Crumlish of Kenworth Northeast, said his firm’s partnership with BOCES led to the signing of Diesel Tech senior Stephen Noradki.

“We have worked with BOCES for some time, and through this partnership, we are creating the next generation for the workforce,” he said.

“Steve was one of our first apprentices in our new program and I am very happy with him and the work he is doing,” said Crumlish.

Class of 2012 Cosmetology program graduate Jackie (Paratore) Fish returned to BOCES to celebrate the signing of senior Aniella Kennedy to her place of employment, Chrispy Cuts Barber Shop & Hair Salon.

“BOCES was life-changing for me, and it’s very important in terms of introducing students to, and preparing them for, the workforce,” she said.

Parents and family members on hand said they value the education and opportunities their students have received.

“Aniella is our second child to go to BOCES, our son went through electrician. We are very pleased that she can graduate high school and enter the workforce debt free and do what she loves,” said Nicole Kennedy, mother of Signing Day participant Aniella Kennedy.

Local students signing letters, their Capital Region BOCES program, home school district and employer are as follows:

Marc Becker, Building Trades, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 158, Cobleskill-Richmondville C.S.D. (CRCS)

Jacob Doherty, Building Trades, The Laborers’ International Union of North America Local 157 and Jersen Construction Group, Schoharie C.S.D. 

William Frost Jr., Adult Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration (HVAC/R), Northeast Heating, Cooling & Refrigeration

Katrina Graves, Automotive Trades Technology, Gilboa-Conesville Central School District Transportation Department, Middleburgh C.S.D.

Matt Jackson, Automotive Trades Technology, Cobleskill Chevrolet GMC, CRCS

Cal Jones, Building Trades, Bellamy Construction, CRCS

Deagan Makarowski, Heavy Equipment Operation, Maintenance & Repair, Lancaster Development Inc./Tri City Products, CRCS

Brendon Mazza, Building Trades, BAC Local No. 2 NY VT, CRCS

Ashley Moorhead, Heavy Equipment Operation, Maintenance & Repair, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 158, Middleburgh C.S.D.

Breanna Parrotti, Building Trades, BBL Construction Services, LLC., Sharon Springs C.S.D.

Joshua Siegel, Adult HVAC/R, Northeast Heating, Cooling & Refrigeration

Savannah Traverse, Heavy Equipment Operation, Maintenance & Repair, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 158, Schoharie C.S.D.

Local 157 and MLB Construction Services, LLC, CRCS

Capital Region BOCES Managing Program Coordinator-Business & Community Partnerships Nancy Liddle thanked the businesses and unions on hand.

“We are thankful for the partnerships that have produced such bright futures for our students, and we look forward to continued growth in these partnerships and more events like today,” she said.