The third cohort of 20 incoming high school freshmen enrolled in Dutchess BOCES’ Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) learned what to expect on their four-year journey during the Summer Bridge Program held July 13 to 24 in the Resilience Academy’s Learning Commons.
P-TECH students complete high school at Roy C. Ketcham High School in Wappingers during their freshman and sophomore years and then take classes at Dutchess Community College’s (DCC) Fishkill Center of Excellence for Industry and Innovation during their junior and senior years. Upon completion, students receive a high school diploma and an applied associate degree in electrical technology.
This new cohort has impressed Educational Resources Coordinator of Student Programs Lauren DiChiara with their knowledge as they worked together on fun challenges, including, “Bug Out,” where they used pipes of different shapes and sizes to make an airtight system so bugs could not invade. For this activity, DCC’s Career Coach Joseph Reilly underscored the importance of teamwork. “Things that make groups successful are being able to communicate with each other … groups can help you be successful, if you are supportive,” Reilly said. “When things don’t work out, try something else, be persistent.”
Keegan McClay, of the Wappingers Central School District, appreciated hearing from the adults about what to expect from P-TECH so he can prepare. He was amazed to learn that he and his classmates could potentially revive struggling industries by being part of the program. “It makes me feel confident and gives me the purpose to drive forward … I’ve got this,” said. “I’m really interested in technology and I want to explore all the opportunities.”
Edwin Rivadeneyra, Director of DCC’s Secondary and Post Secondary School Initiatives and Partnerships, implored students to honestly share why they joined P-TECH, adding that while it does not resemble a traditional high school experience and gets tough, it is a unique opportunity that only a handful of students get to do. “This will set you up so when you’re in your 20’s, 30’s, 40’s and 50’s, you will think about how much this program had an impact on you,” Rivadeneyra said. “Even if your why [for being in P-TECH] is ‘I haven’t figured it out yet,’ I have all the hope that you will succeed in this program.”
The 2026-27 school year marks the first time P-TECH students, from the inaugural cohort who began in fall 2024, will attend DCC. DiChiara will be on campus to oversee their daily college lives. “They will be treated, to an extent, like college students,” DiChiara explained. “It’s going to be a learning curve for our students and the program.”
She noted how industries are fading due to a lack of applicants and an aging workforce. Introducing students to these fields through P-TECH could help, she said. For the past two months, DiChiara visited BOCES’ industry partners, such as GAP Inc. and MPI Systems, to arrange student visits. “It’s great that they’re all on board with trying to set up internships for our students,” DiChiara said of the industry partners. “It’s really important to introduce our younger generations to hands-on work because we’ve moved away from that.”
Previously, recruitment for P-TECH started when students were in eighth grade, but DiChiara plans to begin recruiting students as early as sixth grade, giving them more time to prepare themselves for the academic requirements.
