Students prepare for a regional competition

Students in the Capital Region BOCES Digital Media Design program aren’t shirting their duties to help their peers—well, maybe they are.

Juniors in Barb Gorbaty’s program are printing 453 T-shirts for competitors and participants in the Regional SkillsUSA competition that will be held at the Capital Region BOCES Career and Technical Education Center – Albany Campus on Monday, March 18.

A student in a red shirt and blue baseball cap prepares to print a T-shirt as another student looks on.
William Teall, of Shenendehowa, prepares to print a T-shirt as Madison Wright, of Scotia-Glenville, looks on.

The event will feature students from dozens of schools competing in 32 events ranging from baking to nursing, diesel engine repair and heavy equipment operation. Career and Technical Education students from Capital Region BOCES, Questar III, Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex BOCES, CV-TEC in Plattsburgh and the Abrookin Career & Technical Center in Albany will be present.

Gorbaty said printing the shirts is an excellent way for students to gain professional, real-world experience. 

“The work gives students experience with meeting deadlines, budgeting, quality control, and the whole reality of processing a work order,” said the educator.

Students said they appreciate the opportunity to test their skills.

“I like the creativity of the process and getting things done professionally,” said William Teall, an aspiring graphic designer from Bethlehem who is working on the project. “I like making things and being creative.”

Students enrolled in the two-year Digital Media Design program learn professional skills in industry standard software while developing a working knowledge of design theory and practice. They also engage in the same project planning and execution processes that are consistent with industry practice and demonstrate their technical abilities through the Adobe Certified Expert program.