Twenty of Dutchess BOCES’ first- and second-year students at the Career & Technical Institute (CTI) became members of the National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) during an April 30 induction ceremony held at the Conference Center.
In order to be considered, students completed an application with a writing prompt and provided community service hours and recommendation letters from instructors and job supervisors, all while maintaining an overall career technical education average of 93 or above.
This year’s proceedings saw NTHS President Paolino Piazzi and Vice President Natalie Schultz present the inductees with certificates and purple and white cords, respectively, as a way to give them more responsibilities as student leaders. They also helped decorate the conference center and fold pamphlets ahead of the ceremony.
“I really wanted to boost the initiative the students were taking in their leadership roles,” CTI School Counselor Deanna Pillius explained. “It was very student-centered in arranging everything … they did great.”
Piazzi, an HVAC student, noted that being an NTHS member is a reflection of a student’s commitment, consistency and the way they approach their work in the varied trades, adding that they represent leadership, responsibility, integrity, respect and a strong work ethic.
“You show up and put in the effort and hold yourself to a standard that not everyone is willing to do … career and technical education plays a big role in developing those qualities,” Piazzi said. “In HVAC and other technical programs, you quickly learn that success doesn’t come from getting it right the first time, it comes from understanding why something didn’t work and how to fix it.”
First-year Nursing Assistant student Isabella Caraballo, who embodies the mindset of a nurse by improving the lives of others with careful and heartfelt attention, said receiving the honor has motivated her to continue working hard.
“I felt really happy and grateful to be here,” Caraballo said. “It’s great to see all my hard work being appreciated in a ceremony.”
Second-year Animal & Plant Science student Isabella Hughes, who makes her school work meaningful and volunteers effortlessly for tasks, was initially not aware of NTHS, but once she learned about it, she considered it even more of a representation of who she is. She gave this advice to kids interested in pursuing this designation.
“Stay dedicated even when things are hard,” Hughes said. “Listen to the people around you because they have your best interest at heart.”
The ceremony concluded with students reading the NTHS pledge and everyone partaking in a breakfast prepared by students in the Culinary Arts program.
Congratulations to this year’s inductees:
- Vanessa Aguilar-Perez, Arlington High School: Nursing Assistant II
- Charlotte Callagy, Spackenkill High School: Nursing Assistant I
- Dulce Campos Bautista, Arlington High School: Nursing Assistant I
- Adrianna Cavarretta, Arlington High School: Nursing Assistant I
- Isabella Caraballo, Arlington High School: Nursing Assistant I
- Giana Costagliola, Spackenkill High School: Nursing Assistant I
- Jade Earle, John Jay High School: Nursing Assistant II
- Vivianna Grays, John Jay High School: Nursing Assistant I
- Isabella Hughes, Poughkeepsie High School: Careers in Animal & Plant Science II
- Dalia Lopez Sarmiento, Arlington High School: Nursing Assistant I
- Dmytro Maryniak, John Jay High School: Computer Hardware I
- Aidan O'Brien, Arlington High School: Trade Electric II
- Laila Reuben, Franklin D. Roosevelt High School: Nursing Assistant II
- Trevor Rhodes, Construction Trades I
- Michael Ruffolo, Arlington High School: HVAC I
- Tabitha Smith-White, Beacon High School: Careers in Animal & Plant Science I
Several students inducted did not have media permission and are not included on this list.