Nearly 1600 students from 21 school districts were in attendance. Students from 8th to 12th grade, from school districts throughout the WSWHE BOCES service area were exposed to the world of work in the local region which showcased the myriad of career opportunities available right in their own backyard.
96 booths included businesses, Career and Technical Education programs, Early College Career Academy pathways, colleges, non-profit organizations, unions, apprenticeship co-ops, and more where there for students to learn more about classroom to career pathways in their own backyard.
Several students and instructors from a variety of WSWHE BOCES programs were in attendance hosting a booth about their programs. They were there to speak with potential students about their own experience with the program and the value it brings to them.
Emma-Lynne Lewis from Saratoga Springs is a student in the criminal justice studies (CJS) program. Each year, the CJS students volunteer their day to work at CTE Works!, helping students find their way, securing entrances and offering their thoughts on the program to potential students. “I liked working at CTE Works! because I liked seeing all the different students and businesses and being able to help them,” said Lewis.
Isabella McMahon from Glens Falls is in the culinary arts and hospitality program at BOCES. When asked what she liked about being a part of CTE Works! she said, “I like the wide variety of options [for careers] even though I am in the culinary program, and seeing what everyone else is doing.” She continued by saying, “I really liked meeting all the people [students and businesses] and seeing so much diversity at the event.”
A visitor to CTE Works! was Jeremiah Kouamelan from Saratoga Springs. He said, “my favorite part of today was the Hop on Homes booth with the rabbits. I hadn’t seen them before and they had a very good presentation.” He is interested in animal care along with other fields and enjoyed the day at the City Center.
Chase Tolene from Fort Ann is a new visions engineering program student who worked a table with other classmates at CTE Works! “I really enjoyed seeing all the different faces and all the promising futures that the next generation has,” said Tolene.
Event sponsors for the event were: C.T. Male Associates, Cole’s Collision, GlobalFoundries, Hollingsworth & Vose, Munter Enterprises, Saratoga Honda, TCT Federal Credit Union, and Workforce Development Institute.
District Superintendent, Dr. Turina Parker spoke to the value CTE Works! brings. “This event represents a wonderful collaboration between our schools and business partners, creating invaluable opportunities for students across our region to embark on a journey of career discovery and exploration.”