Thirty-eight second-year students from Dutchess BOCES’ Career & Technical Institute (CTI) are now on their way to start a career or join a branch of the military after participating in the fourth annual Signing Day on May 28.
The ceremony is modeled after how some schools hold celebrations when student athletes commit to a college for a particular sport. In this instance, students sign a commitment letter to start a career with one of many BOCES’ industry partners, whom CTI Principal Jason Lloyd touted for providing pathways for students. He also praised the seniors for accomplishing plenty during this last school year in their respective programs, adding that he most enjoys getting to see them at work.
“I haven’t done as much as what you guys are doing; your journey is just getting started,” Lloyd said. “In the short time that I’ve been here, I’m very, very proud of you.”
CTI’s Work-Based Learning Coordinator, Sharon Myers, said that students have practiced and honed their skills to the point where they have now been recognized and rewarded with gainful employment.
“You have honored your pathway, and now you have started an honorable reputation for yourself, and you are upholding the ideals that will bring success to you,” Myers said. “Our signing day is a perfect day to give honor to our young professionals.”
Julius Sala, who studied in the Security & Law Enforcement program, signed on to join the U.S. Navy and considers it a huge accomplishment. He is the first person in his family to perform military service, and he credits CTI for setting him up well. “I feel like with those skills under my belt, I will be able to perform more accurately,” Sala said. “I want to protect people. That’s the main reason why I joined, I want to be a protector.”
Welding student Brennan Paul is thrilled to begin working for Dorsey Metrology full-time, which he considers a good fit for him. He credits the welding program for helping him perfect his skills, which he put to good use interning at Dorsey. Paul’s advice to future graduates is short, but poignant. “Anything is possible,” Paul said. “If you put your heart and your soul into everything you do and you keep working hard, you’ll reach the goals you want to reach.”
Good luck to our students in their future endeavors!
Signing Day students, school and employers:
- Neil Litt: HVAC, Pawling High School, will work at Aspen HVAC
- Aiden Davis: Trade Electric, Stissing Mountain High School, will work at Berlinghoff Contracting, Inc.
- Schuyler Rawls: Trade Electric, Spackenkill High School, will work at Black Electric Inc.
- Logan Rodriguez: Automotive, John Jay Senior High School, will work at Casella Waste Systems
- Xavier Blanchard: Automotive, Stissing Mountain High School, will work at Casella Waste Systems
- Brennan Paul: Welding, Franklin D. Roosevelt High School, will work at Dorsey Metrology
- Luke Dakin: Welding, Franklin D. Roosevelt High School, will work at Dorsey Metrology
- Aidan O’Brien: Trade Electric, Arlington High School, will work at DS Home Services
- Joe Grippi: Trade Electric, Arlington High School, will work at DS Home Services
- Jonathan Hagan: Small Engine Technology, Arlington High School, will work at DS Home Services
- Connor VanNostrand: Automotive, Roy C. Ketcham High School, will work at Friendly Honda
- Mario Esnard: Automotive, Arlington High School, will work at Friendly Honda
- Thomas Senior: Automotive, Beacon High School, will work at Healey Chevrolet
- Julia Tarkos: Cosmetology, Franklin D. Roosevelt High School, will work at Luxe Salon and Spa
- Wyatt Gallagher: Trade Electric, Pawling High School, will attend the Northeast Lineman Institute.
- Anden Garofalo: Trade Electric, Dover High School, will attend the Northeast Lineman Institute
- Austin Mielich: Trade Electric, Stissing Mountain High School, will attend the Northeast Lineman Institute
- Justin Peacock: Trade Electric, Red Hook High School, will attend the Northeast Lineman Institute
- Anthony Rizzo: Trade Electric, Dover High School, will attend the Northeast Lineman Institute
- Thai Torres: Trade Electric, Arlington High School, will attend the Northeast Lineman Institute
- John Palacios Diaz: Security & Law Enforcement, Arlington High School, will join the New York Army National Guard
- Oscar Hernandez Lopez: Security & Law Enforcement, Poughkeepsie High School, will join the New York Army National Guard
- Landon Quijada: Automotive, Stissing Mountain High School, will work at Ruge’s Chevrolet
- Emily Quijada Soriano: Culinary Arts, Poughkeepsie High School, will join the U.S. Air Force
- Jayden McNulty: HVAC, Arlington High School, will join the U.S. Air Force
- Allen Hill: Security & Law Enforcement, Franklin D. Roosevelt High School, will join the U.S. Army
- Anajah Lamb: Cosmetology, Beacon High School, will join the U.S. Army
- Evan Fusaro: Trade Electric, Franklin D. Roosevelt, will join the U.S. Army
- Julian Curran: Welding, Stissing Mountain High School, will join the U.S. Army
- Max Beecher: Construction, Rhinebeck High School, will join the U.S. Army
- Savannah Strawn: Security & Law Enforcement, Stissing Mountain High School, will join the U.S. Army
- Kieran Garcia Peterson: Automotive, John J. Senior High School, will join the U.S. Marines
- Dillion Scott: Culinary, Franklin D. Roosevelt High School, will join the U.S. Marines
- Gavin Ottley: Small Engine Technology, Dover High School, will join the U.S. Marines
- Jeremiah Hardwell: Trade Electric, Beacon High School, will join the U.S. Navy
- Julius Sala: Security & Law Enforcement, Beacon High School, will join the U.S. Navy
- Nicholas Coburn: Security & Law Enforcement, Webutuck High School, will join the U.S. Navy
- Maxx Deane: Trade Electric, Pawling High School, will work at Westchester Modular Homes