The annual Capital Region BOCES National Signing Day was a success with 78 high school and adult education students signing letters of intent to work for local businesses and a crowd of more than 200 business, family, labor and education supporters watching.
During a May 20 ceremony at the Career & Technical Education (CTE) Center – Albany Campus, dignitaries celebrated the students as well as the valuable role BOCES plays in preparing students to become contributing members of society and the workforce.
“Workforce development programs like career and technical education and registered apprenticeships are how we build the workforce New York needs,” said New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon. “I congratulate the students signing today and thank Capital Region BOCES and our allies in business and labor for their partnership. When we invest in the future of young people, we invest in ourselves.”
The Capital Region BOCES event mirrors the NCAA’s National Signing Day for athletes who commit to play sports in college. It is designed to honor students who are entering a technical field and to celebrate the dignity of work.
Besides Reardon, others speaking at the event included Joel Lape, Shop Foreman of the Power Generation Division of P1 Industries, Inc.; Emma Weiland, a senior in the Manufacturing and Machining Technology program who works for P1 Industries; and Jeff Palmer, Director of Career and Technical Education at Capital Region BOCES.
“Last summer’s work-based learning experience at P1 [Industries]—which I was able to take part in thanks to Capital Region BOCES—taught me skills I could never get from a textbook, and it confirmed that this is exactly where I belong,” said Weiland, a Shenendehowa High School senior.
“I’m also grateful for the opportunity to help represent women entering the skilled trades and manufacturing industries,” she added.
Palmer thanked the partners, parents and educators on hand.
“Through your unwavering support, your child has reached this milestone,” she told parents, while praising the business and labor partners for “opening your doors to our students and helping bridge the gap between school and the workforce.”
Lape, a graduate of Capital Region BOCES’ Schoharie Career and Technical Education Center, praised the commitment made by the students.
“In a world that sometimes pushes every student toward the same path, you had the wisdom and the courage to choose your own,” he said. “You saw value in learning a real trade — one that pays well, that society desperately needs, and that lets you build, fix, create and serve every single day.”
Parents and family members on hand said they value the education and opportunities their students have received.
“From a father in the trades, this kind of ceremony and recognition is pretty cool,” said Jesse Judeikis, a union carpenter. His son, Jack, is graduating from the Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration program and Schalmont and signed with Duell Plumbing and Heating on Wednesday.
Student Sam Daguillo said he was excited for the event and what lies ahead as he signed on with Greno Industries.
“It’s exciting because I am getting to use what I have learned at BOCES in the workforce. am going into a job that will advance me towards my goals and helps build my future,” the Mohonasen student who is enrolled in the Manufacturing and Machining Technology program.
Students signing letters, their Capital Region BOCES program, home school district and employer are as follows:
- Wukianos Abbatiello, Plumbing Technology, Niskayuna, NY Creates — Micron Apprenticeship Program
- Lark Abraham, Automotive Trades Technology, Burnt Hills- Ballston Lake, Morris Ford, Inc./University of Northwestern Ohio
- Mujahid Al-Kabir, Plumbing Technology, Schenectady, Global Foundries — IMT Apprenticeship
- Zaiden Baker, Electrical Trades Technology, Schoharie, Double B Electric
- William Bannigan, Automotive Trades Technology, Bethlehem, DePaula Ford and Mazda
- Cody Bess, Heavy Equipment Repair and Operation, Voorheesville, Abele Tractor
- Jordan Bloodgood, Building Trades, Schoharie, North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters/MBM
- Austin Bulger, Automotive Trades Technology, Cobleskill-Richmondville, Cobleskill Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram
- Evan Cater, Medium Heavy Duty Truck Repair, Schoharie, MDRM Industries, Inc.
- Nathanial Chotkowski, Plumbing Technology, Niskayuna, NY Creates — Micron Apprenticeship Program
- Aryn Cinque, Plumbing Technology, Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk, UA Local 7 Plumbers and Steamfitters Apprenticeship/ Postler & Jaeckle Corp.
- Robert Congiusta, Welding and Metal Fabrication, North Colonie, Standard Steel, Inc.
- Vincent D’Agostino, Heavy Equipment Repair and Operation, Berne-Knox-Westerlo, MLC Contracting, LLC
- Samuel Daguillo, Manufacturing and Machining Technology, South Colonie, Greno Industries
- Deven Dashnaw, Heavy Equipment Repair and Operation, Duanesburg, Laborers Local 190
- Anthony Datri, Automotive Trades Technology, Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk, Finke Equipment
- Vincent DeMarco, Cobleskill-Richmondville, Laborers Local 157/Jersen Construction Group
- Andrew Dennis, Building Trades, Sharon Springs, North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters and LeChase/Quality Structures
- Kaleb Dickenson, Building Trades, Schoharie, UA Local 7 Plumbers and Steamfitters Apprenticeship/RMB
- Jordan Dominy, Building Trades, Guilderland, North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters/LeChase/Quality Structures
- Charles Drake, Plumbing Technology, Shenendehowa, Global Foundries — IMT Apprenticeship
- Nathan Edouard, Plumbing Technology, Niskayuna, UA Local 7 Plumbers and Steamfitters Apprenticeship
- Xhayne Epperson, Plumbing Technology, Mohonasen, UA Local 7 Plumbers and Steamfitters Apprenticeship
- Nicholas Frost, Building Trades, Bethlehem, Local 2 Bricklayers/Euro Tile & Stone
- Hunter Goss, Manufacturing and Machining Technology, Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk, Greno Industries
- Emily Gwozdz, Electrical Trades Technology, Sharon Springs, Bellow Electric Excavating/SUNY Alfred
- Gavin Hariprashad, Electrical Trades Technology, Schalmont, Double B Electric
- Dillon Harlow, New Visions: Emerging Technologies, Shenendehowa, Global Foundries — IMT Apprenticeship
- Preston Hoffman, Medium Heavy Duty Truck Repair, Ravena- Coeymans-Selkirk, TCI of NY, LLC
- Connor Jacques, Network Technology, Bethlehem, NY Creates — Micron Apprenticeship Program
- Treston Jasinski, Plumbing Technology, Mohonsen, UA Local 7 Plumbers and Steamfitters Apprenticeship/Collett Mechanical, Inc.
- Jack Judeikis, Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, Schalmont, Duell Plumbing and Heating
- Joshua Kenyon, Automotive Trades Technology, Scotia-Glenville, Capitaland Motors Subaru/GMC/University of Northwestern Ohio
- Taylor Klefbeck, Cosmetology, Berne-Knox-Westerlo, Choices Hair Studio
- Andrey Kuropatkin, Automotive Trades Technology, Duanesburg, Mohawk Honda
- Connor Laurenty, Automotive Trades Technology, Scotia-Glenville, Gil’s Garage
- Tyler Lohman, Plumbing Technology, Burnt Hills- Ballston Lake2, Global Foundries — IMT Apprenticeship
- Azrael Lozano-Kozakiewicz, Plumbing Technology, Voorheesville, UA Local 7 Plumbers and Steamfitters Apprenticeship/Criscone Mechanical, LLC
- Maximus Malaquias, Automotive Trades Technology, Cohoes, Richards Auto
- Nathaniel Mansky, Building Trades, Scotia-Glenville, North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters/LeChase/Quality Structures
- Nathan Matthews, Automotive Trades Technology, Schenectady, Capitaland Motors Subaru-GMC/Hudson Valley Community College
- Aiden McGill, Plumbing Technology, Schenectady, UA Local 7 Plumbers and Steamfitters Apprenticeship/The DiGesare Group
- Bryce Mensing, Electrical Trades, Duanesburg, Global Foundries — IMT Apprenticeship
- Briana O’Connor, Welding and Metal Fabrication, Schalmont, Iron Workers Local Union 12
- Dale Olsen, Automotive Trades Technology, Duanesburg, Apex Sewer & Drain Cleaning
- Luke Orminski, Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, Scotia-Glenville, North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters/AOW
- Ryan Persaud, Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, Schenectady, NY Creates/Hudson Valley Community College
- Benjamin Peters, Manufacturing and Machining Technology, Shenendehowa, P1 Industries, LLC
- Spencer Pilczuk, Building Trades, Scotia-Glenville, Ironworkers Local Union 12
- Malachi Plaza, Automotive Trades Technology, Burnt Hills- Ballston Lake, Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram of Clifton Park
- Donovan Polsun, Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, Scotia-Glenville, North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters/AOW
- Francis Potter, Welding and Metal Fabrication, Schalmont, Sarchiotos Automobile Repair
- Victor Rosado, Building Trades, Schenectady, Bast Hatfield Construction, LLC
- Jackson Ryder, Electrical Trades Technology, Cobleskill- Richmondville, Aaron’s Electric, LLC/SUNY Delhi
- Oliver Simeon, Building Trades, Middleburgh, Laborers Local 157/M. Sullivan Construction
- Nicholas Smith, Medium Heavy Duty Truck Repair, Middleburgh, Bill’s Trucking and Excavating
- Noah Sroka, Heavy Equipment Repair and Operation, Duanesburg, Laborers Local 190
- Sage Steenburg, Automotive Trades Technology, Scotia-Glenville, Carls Auto & Truck Repair and Mohawk Honda/University of Northwestern Ohio
- Wyatt Strobeck, Welding and Metal Fabrication, Middleburgh, Iron Horse Welding
- Alexander Stuart, Electrical Trades Technology, Schalmont, Global Foundries — IMT Apprenticeship
- Caleb Suits, Heavy Equipment Repair and Operation, Duanesburg, Ironworkers Local Union 12
- Mark Suroojbally, Plumbing Technology, Schenectady, Global Foundries — IMT Apprenticeship
- Xavion Sutton, New Visions: Emerging Technologies, Niskayuna, NY Creates — Micron Apprenticeship Program
- Zachary Trippany, Automotive Trades Technology, Schalmont, Global Foundries — IMT Apprenticeship
- Rameel Trusty Jr., Plumbing Technology, Shenendehowa, UA Local 7 Plumbers and Steamfitters Apprenticeship/John W. Danforth Company
- Christopher Urgento, Automotive Trades Technology, Scotia-Glenville, Electric City Motors
- Adela Uveges, Cosmetology, Bethlehem, NY Creates/Hudson Valley Community College
- Lydia Waage, Heavy Equipment Repair and Operation, Cobleskill-Richmondville, Casella Waste Products/SUNY Cobleskill
- Aaron Weber, Building Trades, Cobleskill Richmondville, North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters/Jersen Construction
- Emma Weiland, Manufacturing and Machining Technology, Shenendehowa, P1 Industries, Inc./Hudson Valley Community College
- Matthew Wilcox, Automotive Trades Technology, Bethlehem, J & D Automotive
- Quashon Williams, Plumbing Technology, Schenectady, NY Creates — Micron Apprenticeship Program
- Sebastien Williams, Plumbing Technology, Shenendehowa, UA Local 7 Plumbers and Steamfitters Apprenticeship
- Jenna Willis, Cosmetology, Shenendehowa, Hair Salon 1533
- Wesley Willoughby, Heavy Equipment Repair and Operation, Sharon Springs, EC Buck Industries
- Zayvian Womack, Building Trades, Schenectady, Bast Hatfield Construction, LLC
- Maya Wright, Cosmetology, Duanesburg, Grit & Grace Salon
- Anthony Zerrillo, Automotive Collision Technology, Guilderland, Goldstein Collision Center
Capital Region BOCES Managing Program Coordinator-Business & Community Partnerships Nancy Liddle thanked the businesses and unions on hand.
“Today’s Signing Day is more than a celebration—it is a powerful reminder of what happens when education, business, and labor unite to invest in students and the future workforce,” she said.
“For the fifth year, we have watched students step confidently into careers that are essential to our communities and industries. We are incredibly grateful to our business and union partners for believing in our students, opening doors of opportunity, and helping build bright futures that will strengthen our region for years to come,” Liddle added.
“We are thankful for the partnerships that have produced such bright futures for our students, and we look forward to continued growth in these partnerships and more events like today,” she said.