More than 650 high school students kicked off the new school year at the HFM Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center last week to get a start on mastering the skills needed for today’s in-demand careers.
These students represent all 11 high schools within the HFM BOCES region, including Amsterdam, Broadalbin-Perth, Canajoharie, Fonda-Fultonville, Fort Plain, Gloversville, Johnstown, Mayfield, Northville, Oppenheim-Ephratah-St. Johnsville, and Wells.
The HFM CTE Center offers students a dynamic pathway for career exploration and enrichment through hands-on learning in programs such as Auto Body Repair, Cybersecurity & Computer Technology, Environmental Conservation, Fire Science, Medical Assisting, Veterinary and Animal Science, and more.
CTE Principal Michael DiMezza said the start of a new school year is always an exciting time, especially as HFM CTE continues to expand opportunities for students.
“Each year brings new opportunities for our young professionals to discover their interests, develop skills, and begin exploring future career paths,” said DiMezza. “We’re especially excited to introduce new programs this year that will give them even more access to hands-on career exploration and help them make informed decisions about their future. We look forward to seeing what this new group of students accomplishes throughout the year.”
New this year, HFM CTE is offering two Early CTE programs for ninth and 10th-grade students: Introduction to Construction, taught by Robert Purtell, and Introduction to Healthcare and Human Services, taught by Jack Krug and Renee Stewart.
Students enrolled in the Early CTE program complete both half-year courses, allowing them to explore multiple career pathways and discover areas that align with their interests and abilities before enrolling in a full CTE program.
Kamden Watkins, a ninth-grade student from the Greater Amsterdam School District, said he was drawn to Early CTE after learning about the program during a presentation and seeing it as an opportunity to try something new.
“I’m looking forward to both programs this year, but I’m really interested in the healthcare course,” he said. “I’m excited to learn new things and see if it’s something I might want to do as a career one day.”
The new school year also marks the launch of HFM CTE’s new Emergency Medical Technology program.
This one-year program is designed for students who aspire to become Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and provide critical care in emergency situations.
The course is led by retired City of Amsterdam Battalion Chief Michael Demars, whose experience brings valuable real-world insight to the classroom.
While the new programs are creating excitement this year, students say the hands-on learning opportunities continue to be one of the biggest draws of HFM CTE.
Gia Dennie, a junior enrolled in the Veterinary and Animal Science program, said she made the decision to enroll in Career and Technical Education for a couple of reasons.
“I like the hands-on aspect of learning, and I’ve always been interested in animals. This gives me a head start to see if I enjoy it before going to college and committing to it fully,” said the Broadalbin-Perth student.
Arianna Pacillo, a student in the Medical Assisting program, enrolled at the CTE Center to follow her dream of wanting to work in the nursing field.
“Enrolling here just gives me a big lead in life to start my education earlier so I can be better prepared to go into nursing school after I graduate high school,” she said.
Pacillo added that she hopes to meet a lot of new people at HFM CTE and looks forward to building relationships with classmates and industry professionals.
