Career Academy Students Begin "Project 180" Hoping to Turn Lives Around

Students at OCM BOCES’ Career Academy in Liverpool have begun a new project this school year with the mission of turning lives around. “Project 180” is the concept of a group of Career Academy students who have decided to create the program to help local people who cannot help themselves. Students hope that in turn, that person will then help another (the pay it forward concept) and many lives will be changed for the better.

Five Career Academy students; Liz Emin from the Baldwinsville School District, Kaylie LaFlair from the North Syracuse School District, Jon Cayea from the Baldwinsville School District, Lilly Snyder from the North Syracuse School District and Paige Szymanak from the North Syracuse School District, created and run Project 180 under the advisement of Career Academy Art Teacher Leah LaChausse. The students created a company logo and are working with Lynn Hoppel, a graphic designer at Syracuse University Press, to have it professionally designed and printed.

At the end of September, the students set up a facebook page that they update with projects in which they are currently involved, and through which they present volunteer opportunities to their fans. Additionally, the students make phone calls and send emails in support of local charities and have scheduled tours at several local organizations in need of volunteers.

On Tuesday, November 9, Project 180 students volunteered at St. Joseph the Worker food pantry in Liverpool. While at the pantry, students helped out by stocking shelves, packaging food and greeting patrons. Career Academy student Kaylie LaFlair found the experience to be eye-opening, saying, “It was sad to see all the people coming to the pantry in need of food, and it made me realize that there are people not far from your home or mine that struggle everyday with everyday needs. It [gave] me a good feeling inside knowing that we helped them out. It was just too bad that we could not give more, because the pantry is currently low on food.” After spending the day at the pantry, the project’s facebook page status was updated to read, “Great job at St. Joe’s today! They are in need of turkeys for Thanksgiving.”

Throughout the school year, the students will be volunteering at several local charities and doing other projects to help local community members in need. Some of Project 180’s upcoming events include painting windows at the Park Rose Retirement Community, making gift bags and place mats for the Rescue Mission and volunteering at the Rescue Mission.

Career Academy Art Teacher and Project 180 advisor Leah LaChausse, is impressed with the students’ enthusiasm saying, “the kids seem VERY motivated to help out in the community and have suggested making the Rescue Mission their ‘BIG GIVEBACK’ this year.”

For more information about the OCM BOCES Career Academy’s Project 180, please visit their facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Project-180/105942032803054 or contact Leah LaChausse at the OCM BOCES Career Academy at 315/453-4473.

Top photo (left to right): Paige Szymanak, Ms. LaChausse, Kaylie LaFlair, Jon Cayea, Ms. Verma, Liz Emin.

Bottom photo: OCM BOCES’ Career Academy student Paige Szymanak from thBe North Syracuse Central School District helps prepare food donations for their eventual recipients at the St. Joseph the Worker Food Pantry on November 9, 2010.