Dutchess BOCES’ Career and Technical Institute is encouraging businesses to tap into the creativity of its students to solve challenges they face while providing real-world experiences.
“You have access to an incubator without cost,” Principal Nick Millas said during June’s Main Advisory Council meeting following a presentation by Sharon Myers, work-based learning coordinator, and Shelly Cuccia, CTI instructional coach.
The Main Advisory Council is a group of industry, higher education, government and nonprofit professionals who provide input on career and technical education matters.
Myers and Cuccia encouraged businesses to reach out and “get students thinking” about the entire realm of their potential profession.
The idea is to find ways to bring more industry experiences to the campus to help students earn work-based learning hours. This is especially valuable to students who may not have the transportation or time to get to an industry site.
Partners would think of a challenge or question to pose to students who would then brainstorm a solution, come up with a plan, develop a prototype or blueprint and then present it publicly to the industry partner.
Richard Croce, chief executive officer of Viking Packaging in New Paltz, did something like this about seven years ago with Ulster BOCES and, as a result of the students’ idea, gained a new client which he has retained ever since.
The challenge involved packaging syrup bottles.
“They had to determine how to design and manufacture the packaging keeping in mind the material cost and the unboxing experience,” Croce said.
The key, Croce said, is that the students learn iterative problem solving. “They learn the problem-solving aspects and if they can get that, it will help them a lot in life.” Sean Brix, human resources manager at Viking, added that it also teaches students communication skills and has them look at a problem from many different perspectives.
“Your team will probably learn something from these kids,” Croce said.
If you have a problem and you’d like to enlist the help of CTI students, email Myers at sharon.myers@dcboces.org or fellow work-based learning coordinator Jason Imperiale at jason.imperiale@dcboces.org to get started.
Growth and improvements highlight 2024-25 school year
Enrollment for high school CTI students grew from 673 in 2023-24 to 730 this year and there are 820 scheduled to start in the fall, Millas told the crowd.
The school not only added students this year, but added Imperiale as a second work-based learning coordinator, expanded work-based learning opportunities through industry partners and had 21 students inducted into the National Technical Honor Society.
More industry certifications were added to programs, all of which provide students with an advantage when they enter the job market.
Millas shared that certifications were added in the welding, HVAC and automotive technology classes and that 80 percent of the students achieved 21st Century Skills Assessment certification.