A few dozen Bethlehem High School students interested in careers ranging from diesel technicians and physicians to cosmetologists and pastry chefs visited the Capital Region BOCES Career and Technical Education Center – Albany Campus on Jan. 22 to learn how BOCES can shift those aspirations into high gear.
Some students were looking to explore career options, while others already knew what they wanted to do and were looking for a competitive edge as they explored various programs offered on the campus.
“I have grown up doing hair and I love it,” said prospective Cosmetology student Olivia Jackson, who worked with current student Saudia Bacchus on a hairstyle.
Aspiring Diesel Tech students Mason Raylinski and Abby Donnelly toured the lab and met with current students working on a fuel tank.
“I am interested in learning more about the career options that exist with diesel,” Donnelly said.
Once an education path for those students only seeking vocational skills, career and technical education is now a pathway for students looking to build career skills, get a start on their college education or just learn a life skill that will allow them to pay for college. At the Capital Region BOCES Career and Technical School, more than 70% of high school students pursue higher education, while many others directly enter the workforce with a highly technical skill set such as cooking, network cabling or operating heavy equipment.
Students in nearly all of Capital Region BOCES’ 27 programs earn certifications and valuable skills while also working in a real-world setting, such as area businesses.
Bethlehem High School sophomore Reggie Van Vroken summed up her interest in BOCES quite succinctly.
“My big dream is to open my own bakery, and I can prepare for that at BOCES,” she said.
Enrollment is currently underway for the 2024-25 school year. For more information on career and technical school programs, go to https://www.capitalregionboces.org/career-technical-education/courses-programs/.