BOCES Students Contribute to Ronald McDonald House

Early in the 2010-2011 school year, OCM BOCES students from Janet Clark's laboratory technology classes, and Robin Willey's health occupations classes at the Irvin E. Henry Campus, began a recycling project to support the Central New York Ronald McDonald house. The students were learning about recycling and reducing as part of their science curriculum and decided to do some recycling of their own for a good cause. In October of 2010, the students began collecting pop tops to support the charity. Their efforts caught on and were supported throughout their school, becoming somewhat of a contest between classrooms. In all, the students and staff collected more than 70 pounds of pop tops, which were donated to the Ronald McDonald house on June 7, 2011.

The students involved in the collection efforts brought the donations to the Ronald McDonald house on the 7th and performed a variety of community service projects while they were there. Some of the tasks that the students completed at the home included assembling toys for the residents, cleaning out a shed, weeding gardens, sweeping the parking lot, picking up trash and thoroughly cleaning the inside of the house. The students were also given a tour of the facility and had the opportunity to see how their efforts would benefit others. The trip provided a very rewarding experience for the students!

OCM BOCES STARS High School Student Places in Competitive Art Exhibition

Congratulations to Zack Davis, an OCM BOCES STARS Alternative High School junior from the Jamesville DeWitt Central School District, for recently having placed third in the 39th Annual Teenage Competitive Art Exhibition! Six students from the STARS Alternative High School, and hundreds from school districts across Central New York, entered various works of art in the exhibition, and Zack's work placed third in the 3-dimensional division. On June 4, Zack was presented with an award during a ceremony honoring all winners at Syracuse's Community Folk Art Center on East Genesee Street.

OCM BOCES Deaf Program Students Attend Naturalization Ceremony

Earlier this year, students and teachers from the OCM BOCES Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program at Solvay High School attended a naturalization ceremony at Syracuse's Federal Court House. They were able to witness a former OCM BOCES student and classmate, Tamla Too, as she became an American citizen. While 28 other candidates spoke their oaths of citizenship, Tamla used American Sign Language to take her oath. The experience was very moving for the students, staff and Tamla's family.

Five OCM BOCES Students Recognized by Syracuse Auto Dealers Association

Each year, the Syracuse Automotive Dealers Association (SADA) presents seven awards for excellence to local Career and Technical Education students exploring the fields of automotive technology and automotive collision technology. The students, from OCM BOCES, Central Tech Vocational Center and the Johnson Center, are selected by their classroom teachers on criteria such as classroom attendance, participation, technology, math and science skills, attitude, capacity to diagnose issues and ability to work with others.

The association has been presenting the awards for 16 years, with the concept developed by Lew Goodman, the now deceased, president of a Chrysler dealership in Syracuse. Barbara Rothschild, Executive Vice-President of the SADA said of the awards “With an ever increasing need for skilled technicians, we believe that this is an opportunity for the auto dealers to meet prospective auto body and auto technicians. Over the years, many [of the students] have become employees of our dealerships.”

This year’s SADA awards were presented at a luncheon ceremony at OCM BOCES on Wednesday, June 1, 2011. The awards were presented by SADA President, Bruce Rapp, along with Jim Barr of Crest Cadillac/Acura and Mark Weaver of Drivers Village. Referring to the field of automotive technology, President Rapp said, “It is one of the most important aspects of our business. [It is the good work of] the service and body shops [that] brings customers back. I am thrilled to honor these young men today.”

The 2011 SADA award winners from OCM BOCES were:
Joseph Bugacki, an auto technology senior from the Jamesville-Dewitt CSD
Max Ford, an auto technology senior from the North Syracuse CSD
Chase Lee, and auto collision technology senior from the Cortland City SD
Derrick Mitchell, an auto collision technology senior from the Fayetteville-Manlius CSD
Justin Rowley, an auto technology senior from the McGraw CSD (pictured above receiving his award from SADA President Bruce Rapp)

For more information about the OCM BOCES Automotive Technology, Automotive Collision Technology or other Career and Technical Education Programs, contact Robert Leslie, Director of Career, Technical and Adult Education at 315/431-8407.