A female graduate of the adult education program holds her cap as she walks down the aisle during the ceremony. Several other graduates are walking behind her.
Capital Region BOCES > Adult Education Announcements > Adult education students from around the world graduate from Capital Region BOCES
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Adult education students from around the world graduate from Capital Region BOCES

More than 100 adults from across the region graduated Aug. 19 from Capital Region BOCES during an emotion-filled ceremony.

Capital Region BOCES Assistant District Superintended hands a graduation certificate to a female student at the adult education graduation. Both people ae smiling.

The adult learners were celebrated during a ceremony at William S. Hackett Middle School in Albany for completing the BOCES high school equivalency (HSE); English as a New Language (ENL); Building Trades; Welding; Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, Building Trades and Refrigeration (HVAC/R); and Electrical Trades programs.

For some graduates, the program completion allows them to move on to further education opportunities, while, for others, it allows them to launch new careers.

BOCES Assistant District Superintended hugs an adult education program graduate. The photo is taken from the female graduate's perspective and she is smiling.

Yvonne Mickle is a 66-year-old from Guyana who graduated from the HSE program. A medical technician at St. Peter’s Hospital, she plans to use her diploma to enroll in nursing school.

“I am not a spring chicken, but as far as I can go, I am going to go,” she said.

Rensselaer resident Lucas Ortiz had a new job lined up even before graduating from the adult Electrical Trades program

A female and male student wearing royal cap and gowns pose for a selfie together at the adult education graduation ceremony.

“It’s a great program. A recruiter for Global Foundries came here, I submitted an application and they hired me,” he said.

Graduate Kyi “Kevin” Hlaing graduated from the English as a New Language (ESL) program. 

“I started studying at BOCES in November 2024. Now I can get accepted into the [certified nurse assistant] course and work as a [patient care assistant]. This is all because of Capital Region BOCES,” he said.

For many graduates, BOCES provided an environment that nurtured their learning.

“Attending BOCES was very beneficial to my mental health,” said Katherine Cook, a Schenectady resident and graduate of the High School Equivalency program. “I stopped going to high school because it was too difficult for me with anxiety. BOCES provided me with a great alternative.” 

A male student accepts his adult education graduation certificate on stage as he smiles.

Mary Slattery also attended the HSE program after not completing high school. She now plans to attend college and open a coffee shop or restaurant.

“The program was amazing, I had one of the best teachers [Frank Finch],” Slattery said. “I was a bit skeptical when I first enrolled, but for me it was the perfect program for me.”

A graduate of the adult education program raises his hands in the air while holding his graduation certificate in one hand.

Supervisor of Adult Education and Programming Dr. Kate Lapham praised the graduates for their dedication to learning and advancement. 

“Our graduates come from such diverse backgrounds but have achieved so much here at Capital Region BOCES. I am excited to see what the future holds for them and how they will use the foundation provided to them through our adult education program,” she said.

The graduates are just some of the approximately 1,000 adult learners served annually by Capital Region BOCES. 

For more information on adult education offerings at BOCES, visit https://www.capitalregionboces.org/adult-education/classes-programs/.