Capital Region BOCES > Archive > Rising seniors look forward to new skills, certification and working with their hands
Posted on

Rising seniors look forward to new skills, certification and working with their hands

From professional certifications to hands-on learning, rising seniors at Capital Region BOCES say they have a laundry list of things they are looking forward to when the school year resumes next month.

Students lift a part into the bottom of a carMore than 1,600 students from at least two dozen school districts start classes on Sept. 10 at the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center Albany and Schoharie campuses. About half of them are launching their professional training education in the trades while the remainder are returning to complete their CTE educations and graduate in June, 2027.

Many seniors will conclude BOCES this year and enter the workforce pursuing careers in the industry thanks to the professional certifications they earned and industry contacts they made at CTE. Others will use their BOCES education in one of the 29 different programs offered to advance their careers and learning in college.

Asked what they are looking forward to during the 2026-27 school year, the seniors offered a myriad of mostly enthusiastic responses.

Student preparing food“I am excited for the engine unit. To be able to take an engine apart and put it back together,” said Logan Beston, who attends the Automotive Trades Technology program from Schalmont.

Aspiring chef Liam Cahill said he is looking forward to gaining “more experience and learning new skills,” while classmate Talia Harlow has a more personal goal for the coming year.

“I am looking forward to expanding my skills set and developing more confidence in myself and my abilities in the kitchen and elsewhere,” the Cohoes teen said.

For Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVAC/R) senior Colin Rex, the coming school year is all about finalizing preparations for his future.

HVAC students in a group“I am looking forward learning about furnaces and to getting the rest of my professional certifications, which will be really helpful for my future,” the Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk senior said.

Capital Region BOCES offers a litany of programs, ranging from Plumbing Technology to Certified Nurse Assistant, Game Design and Implementation and Heavy Equipment Repair and Operation, on its two campuses, as well as off-campus locations, such as Bellevue Woman’s Center, Schoharie Elementary School and St. Peter’s Hospital.