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.
Among these were:
- Jacob Doherty, Building Trades, The Laborers’ International Union of North America Local 157 and Jersen Construction Group, Schoharie C.S.D.
- Savannah Traverse, Heavy Equipment Operation, Maintenance & Repair, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 158, Schoharie C.S.D.
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.
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.