Nearly 300 high school seniors were honored at the annual Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery Career and Technical Education (CTE) commencement ceremonies, held before audiences of family, friends, faculty, and HFM BOCES administrators.
This year’s ceremonies were held at the HFM BOCES main campus over two evenings, June 17 and 18.
The ceremony celebrated students from 11 area high schools who successfully completed one- and two-year programs in a range of fields, including auto body repair, auto technology, construction technology, cosmetology, criminal justice, culinary arts, cybersecurity and computer technology, digital multimedia, robotics and engineering technology, environmental conservation, foundations of food services, medical assisting, new visions education, new visions health careers, skilled trades, and veterinary and animal science.
During the ceremony, HFM CTE Principal Michael DiMezza delivered the keynote address, highlighting the graduates’ growth. He encouraged the students to continue building on the skills they developed at the Career and Technical Education Center.
“To our graduates, two years ago you made a decision. You chose to take a leap into something different. You chose to explore a career pathway, challenge yourself, and invest in your future,” DiMezza said. “What you all had in common was the courage to take that first step.”
DiMezza told the graduates they are entering the next phase of their lives with real-world skills and experience.
“You are no longer just students. You are young professionals,” he said.
He also emphasized that graduation is just one milestone in a longer journey.
“This is not the finish line. Tonight is a benchmark,” he said. “The most successful people understand that growth never stops.”
HFM CTE Administrative Coordinator Michael Ott also addressed the graduates and encouraged them to follow their spark, believe in themselves, and create their own path forward. He left the class of 2026 with a simple challenge.
“You started here, now I challenge you — take your light and go anywhere,” Ott said.
In addition to receiving certificates of completion, several special awards were presented to students including:
HFM BOCES Career and Technical Center Outstanding Professional Student Award
- Ian McClary – Amsterdam, Criminal Justice
- Delanie McRedmond – Fonda-Fultonville, New Visions Health
HFM BOCES Teacher’s Association Career and Technical Center Award
- Leanora Fitzgerald – Northville, New Visions Education
- Janelle Soler – Broadalbin-Perth, Cosmetology
HFM BOCES Superintendents’ Association Award
- Julia Elwood – OESJ, Culinary Arts
- Hadley Crannell – OESJ, Medical Assisting
Adam Kline Memorial Scholarship
- Angela Leto – Broadalbin-Perth, Environmental Conservation
Ben Conte “Pay it Forward” Memorial Scholarship
- Tyler Barnes – OESJ, Environmental Conservation
Peter R. Marsh Foundation Silent Servant Scholarship Award
- Charlotte Nare – Canajoharie, Medical Assisting
- Jack Kuchark – Gloversville, New Visions Education
Fulton County Healthcare Scholarship Award
- Hannah Greene – Johnstown, Medical Assisting
- Justine Newkirk – Broadalbin-Perth, Medical Assisting
- Kaiden Heroth – Johnstown, New Visions Health
- Skye Holloway – Broadalbin-Perth, New Visions Health
John Schiavoni Automotive Scholarship
- Arlie Breen – Northville, Auto Body Repair
- Keegan Canfield – Northville, Auto Technology
Fulton County Antique Car Club Award
- Noah Fonda – Fort Plain, Auto Body Repair
- Scott Naylor – Johnstown, Auto Technology
William Menge Memorial Auto Body Scholarship
- Arlie Breen – Northville, Auto Body Repair
- Joseph Funiciello – Johnstown, Auto Body Repair
A number of students were also recognized for their achievements in the classroom:
Auto Body Repair:
- Highest Average – Arlie Breen, Northville
- Most Professional – Noah Fonda, Fort Plain
Auto Technology:
- Highest Average – Keegan Canfield, Northville
- Most Professional – Scott Naylor, Johnstown
Construction Technology:
- Highest Average – Andrew Platt, Broadalbin-Perth
- Most Professional – Dawson Tracki, Fort Plain
Cosmetology:
- Highest Average – Janelle Soler, Broadalbin-Perth
- Most Professional – Jillian Parkes, Broadalbin-Perth
Criminal Justice:
- Highest Average – Kyla McRedmond, Fonda-Fultonville
- Most Professional – Ian McClary, Amsterdam
Culinary Arts:
- Highest Average – Julia Elwood, OESJ
- Most Professional – Julia Elwood, OESJ
- Most Improved – Jayden Reale, Amsterdam
Cybersecurity & Computer Technology:
- Highest Average – Gavin Rowback, Mayfield
- Most Professional – Adrian Epps, Gloversville
Digital Multimedia:
- Highest Average – Caydin Boyd, Amsterdam
- Most Professional – Kayla Dean, Canajoharie
- Performance Award (Digital Award Overall) – Caydin Boyd, Amsterdam
- Performance Award (Creativity) – Charles Stafford, Amsterdam
- Performance Award (Dependability) – Kayleigh Orlando, Fonda-Fultonville
- Performance Award (Effort) – Tyler Durrin, Gloversville
- Performance Award (Leadership) – Micheal Spratt, Gloversville
Environmental Conservation:
- Highest Average (Heavy Equipment) – Tyler Barnes, OESJ
- Highest Average (Forestry) – Kaydan Moyer, OESJ
- Most Professional (Forestry) – Angela Leto, Broadalbin-Perth
- Best Attendance (Heavy Equipment) – Justin Rodriguez, Broadalbin-Perth
Foundations of Food:
- Highest Average – Sean Rushkoski, Johnstown
- Most Professional – Tanner Petruccione, Amsterdam
- Most Improved – Kaylee Gray, Amsterdam
- Culinary Creativity Award – Gunnar Backus, Mayfield
Medical Assisting:
- Highest Average – Charlotte Nare, Canajoharie
- Most Professional – Hadley Crannell, OESJ
New Visions Education:
- Highest Average – Leanora Fitzgerald, Northville
- Most Professional – Jack Kuchark, Gloversville
- Most Improved – Emily Brownell, Northville
New Visions Health:
- Highest Average – Olivia Stramezzi, Johnstown
- Highest Average – Jenna Krawczeski, Gloversville
- Most Professional – Kaiden Heroth, Johnstown
- Most Professional – Skye Holloway, Broadalbin-Perth
Robotics and Engineering Technology:
- Highest Average – Kyle Ford, Mayfield
- Most Professional – Maddix Culnan, Broadalbin-Perth
Skilled Trades:
- Highest Average – Chris Schmidtmann, OESJ
- Most Professional – Jonah Walrath, Gloversville
Veterinary and Animal Science:
- Highest Average – Natalie Toher, Canajoharie
- Most Professional – Sarah Horton, Fonda-Fultonville
- Most Improved – Caydence Carpenter, Fonda-Fultonville
