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Environmental
conservation student earns honors for excelling in a
non-traditional career program of study
 Leah
Ellers said she “put my heart and soul” into the essay
answers she wrote as part of her award application process,
but still she was stunned to be chosen as one of only six
students statewide to receive a Vanguard Award for excelling
in a non-traditional career program.
Now in her second year in the HFM BOCES Career and Technical
Center’s Environmental Conservation program, Leah said she
was nominated for the award by her program teacher, Donald
Lucas.
 She
and the other five award recipients were honored during an
awards ceremony at the Desmond Hotel in Albany in late
March. Associate State Education Commissioner Jean C.
Stevens presented the Vanguard Awards on behalf of the
Center for Innovation in Career Development, which is
affiliated with the University at Albany’s School of
Education.
Leah, an Amsterdam High School senior, said that even as a
child she was “drawn to big machines.” So when she toured
the Career & Technical Center early in her high school
program, she was initially interested in the construction
and auto-body programs. “But this one caught my eye,” she
said of the environmental conservation program. “I just
liked everything about it.”
 In
addition to learning key lessons about the technical side of
the environmental field, Leah said, “I also learned people
skills, how to take direction, how to pay attention and be
really cautious so as not to get hurt or hurt others.”
Vanguard Award opens doors
Just days before the Vanguard Awards ceremony, Leah received
her acceptance letter to SUNY Cobleskill where she plans to
study diesel technology. “I think this award really helped
with my application,” she said, and it has other benefits,
as well. “Receiving this award makes me feel accomplished,
like maybe I am doing something right and that I am going in
the right direction.”
 Leah
hopes her high school and college studies will help her land
a job working for the state highway department. “I would
love to get a good job and live in a nice town in the
Adirondacks,” she said, “and travel.” The Cranesville native
has already visited 25 states with family members, and can’t
wait to see more.
But for now, she said, she is concentrating on her studies.
“My mom has high standards for me. It makes me happy to make
her happy.”
For more information about the Environmental Conservation
program,
click here.
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