The following article has been shared by the Capital Region BOCES CTE School
At just 16, Alex Cipperly was hired for a job in a career track that he plans to pursue.
Cipperly, who turned 17 at the end of September, was hired earlier in the month by Carver Industries to serve as a laborer and to perform some mechanical work at their Schoharie County operation.
The Capital Region BOCES heavy equipment/commercial construction student from Schoharie was hired thanks to his studies at Capital Region BOCES’ Schoharie campus and Business Liaison Nancy Liddle, who, along with Work-based Learning Coordinator Jim Haas, finds jobs for students in the fields they are studying.
“It’s great to have a job in the work field I am interested in,” said Cipperly. “Attending BOCES puts you in a good place and gives you lots of options.”
Cipperly will work part-time for Carver Industries while in school and then hopes to gain full-time next summer. He plans to study diesel and auto mechanics in college next fall.
“As a kid I wanted to operate a farm but that’s kind of impractical the way the economy is. Going to Capital Region BOCES and getting a job and a foot in the door in a career that I do enjoy is amazing,” he said.
Cipperly said attending the Schoharie Career and Technical School campus not only “gives you a lot of experience that allows you to get hired, but also gives you certifications that apply to the work field.”
Students in the two-year heavy equipment/construction program learn the knowledge and skills required to enter the construction and equipment operator industries or pursue further education in college or technical school.
They learn everything from equipment operator and maintenance skills to how to construct a building while earning National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) certifications, which are recognized nationwide by contractors and employers, as well as OSHA and first aid certifications.
“BOCES Career and Technical is a great school. You learn a lot. It’s a good environment, the teacher is excellent. Everything is hands on – you are actually learning how to do it instead of reading about it. It’s been great for me,” Cipperly said.
Carver Industries is one of more than 300 business partners that work with BOCES on everything from hiring students, accepting students for work-based learning, serving on the advisory board and providing feedback to ensure that BOCES prepares students with the latest industry skills necessary to enter the workforce or college.