Approximately 500 Capital Region BOCES Career & Technical Education Center students—nearly one-half of the student body—put a charge in their learning Friday at the National Grid Schenectady headquarters.
Students visited more than a dozen stations where National Grid workers showcased their skills and guided them through exercises ranging from handling live wires to operating heavy equipment during the utility’s annual Touch a Truck and Career Day.
The Schoharie and Albany campus students also learned about the variety of careers National Grid hires workers for and how their training in BOCES’ Electrical Trades, Building Trades, Heavy Equipment, HVAC/R, Network Cabling Technician/Smart Home Technology and Automotive Trades Technology programs make them viable candidates to fill those jobs.
Students said they enjoyed the event and are inter
ested in building their futures with National Grid.
“It’s fun seeing all this cool stuff. I could see myself working with cranes or maybe being a lineman,” said Livio DiMura, a Building Trades student from Guilderland.
“It’s interesting learning about the bigger projects they do. The more complex work they do intrigues me,” added Carter Lott, an Automotive Trades Technology student from Niskayuna.
That reaction is exactly what National Grid leadership hoped to hear.
“We are developing green-collar jobs. We need programs like this to ensure we have the workforce necessary to accomplish those goals,” said Brian Sano, Regional Director of National Grid, during a recent tour of the BOCES Albany Campus.
Capital Region BOCES Diesel Technology Class of 2020 graduate Anthony Galasso was among the dozens of National Grid employees present.
He spoke about his journey from Cohoes High School and BOCES to National Grid.
“BOCES got me an internship at S.M. Gallivan and I turned that into a job. I stayed there a few years and then this opportunity came up at National Grid and I came here. I am set for life now,” said Galasso, who works as a fleet technician for the utility.
Automotive Trades Technology junior Malachi Plaza said he learned a lot about National Grid and life at Friday’s event.
“I’m a kid still. I am only 15. But I learned today and through BOCES that if I want to retire earlier and if I want to live a good life, I have got to start by being serious now,” the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake student said.
Nancy Liddle, BOCES Managing Program Coordinator – Business and Community Partnerships, said National Grid is a valuable partner for BOCES and is important for the future of students.
“We appreciate our continued business partnership with National Grid and their willingness to work with Capital Region BOCES and our students. Our programs and students continue to grow because of National Grid’s expertise, knowledge and contributions,” she said.
National Grid is among 300 businesses, educational institutions, professional organizations, and unions that Career & Technical School partners with to provide educational and career opportunities for students.