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Career and
Tech honors 2009 graduates
Student Recognition Program celebrates students’
achievements
 “Your
toolbox is full, the door is open, and the future is yours.”
With those words, HFM BOCES Board of Education President Robert
Townsend launched the 245 graduates of the Career & Technical
Center into their lives after high school.
One of the largest classes to graduate from the HFM BOCES Career
& Technical Center gathered with family, friends, teachers and
staff to celebrate the completion of their studies during a
program in their honor in Fulton-Montgomery Community College’s
gymnasium on June 23.
On a warm summer evening, the students were recognized for their
participation in 17 different technical programs. High school
seniors and adult learners shared the stage as they were honored
for their achievements.
 Career
and Technical Center Director Jay DeTraglia opened the ceremony
by recognizing the BOCES Board of Education and thanking them
for their considerable contributions. Then Mr. DeTraglia
introduced Johnstown student Alexis Akers to lead the audience
in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Toolbox for Success
 Mr.
Townsend told the graduates that their experiences at HFM BOCES
had filled their “toolbox for success” with the technical and
interpersonal skills they needed to control their destiny. He
shared with them a checklist of good advice for their future.
•
Never compromise your personal integrity. Trust and
honesty mean everything.
•
Be passionate in what you do. Don’t let apathy and
complacency stop you from achieving your goals.
•
Be willing to take risks. Knowledge and wisdom comes
from both success and failure.
•
Be compassionate of others. Acknowledge different points
of view.
•
Be forward thinking, but reflective. Your ability to
learn from the past will prepare you for the future.
•
Be willing to set goals that seem unobtainable. Without
testing yourself you will never realize your fullest
potential.
Mr. Townsend singled out the BOCES staff for special
appreciation.
“Your passion, dedication and willingness to be there for your
students is responsible for the growth of these programs,”
Townsend said.
Confidence in the future
 In
his opening remarks, HFM BOCES Superintendent Dr. Geoffrey H.
Davis shared insights he had gained from a new book by author
Christopher Steiner, $20 per Gallon: How the Inevitable Rise
in the Price of Gasoline Will Change Our Lives for the Better.
Dr. Davis recounted that as the price of gasoline continues to
rise, the high cost of global transport would cause imports to
drop and U.S. manufacturing to revive. The reliance on the
automobile would decrease and walking, biking and mass transit
would thrive. People would tend to live in cities, closer to
their work and play. Small local businesses would return as big
box stores failed.
“We need you to design and build our future.” Dr. Davis told the
graduates. He went on to encourage the young men and women to
work hard; pay attention to their families, friends, and health;
and look people in the eye and tell the truth.
“I have great confidence in your ability to maintain the United
States as the preeminent country in the world.” Dr. Davis said.
Each year a student is selected to speak as a representative of
the graduating class. Fort Plain student Samantha Steenburg, a
graduate of the Practical Nursing program, spoke about the
choices she and her classmates had made to attend BOCES.
“We all chose to come here,” Samantha said, “to extend our ring
of knowledge and develop a work ethic that would help us in the
future. HFM BOCES gave us the wings to fly and realize our
dreams.”
 At
the conclusion of the remarks, the teachers in each program took
the stage, and one by one their students came forward to receive
their certificates of completion. Cheers and applause met each
student, and many parents and friends waved and snapped photos
as students left the stage.
In addition to the recognitions presented to students in each
program, winners were announced for five major awards:
HFM BOCES Teachers' Association Award
- presented to Auto Technology student Matthew Fuller of
Johnstown and Criminal Justice and Security student Tiffany
Sweet of Johnstown.
 Montgomery-Fulton United Scholarship
- awarded to Construction Technology student Joshua Krajcir
of Gloversville and Practical Nursing student Samantha Steenburg
of Fort Plain.
NBT Bank Award recipients
were Equine Science student Stephenie Montanaro of Amsterdam and
Digital Multimedia student Tamara VanNostrand of Johnstown.
HFM Superintendents' Association Award
was given to Digital Multimedia student Stephanie Riddle of Fort
Plain and Equine Science student Veronica Castro of Amsterdam.
 HFM BOCES Professional Student Award
was presented to Criminal Justice student Brittany Ostrander of
Johnstown and Construction Technology student Robert Reakes of
Broadalbin-Perth.
For a complete list of all awards and scholarships earned by
Career & Tech students in 2009, click
here.
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