News

January 22, 2025

Recently, over 40 students from Shenendehowa visited the Capital Region BOCES Career and Technical Education Center in Albany. They explored various programs, including Diesel Technology, Welding, Automotive Collision Technology, Culinary Arts, and more.

Tucker Kean, a sophomore, shared his interest in heavy equipment. He aims to repair and operate machinery as he works towards becoming a forestry operator. Meanwhile, Jonah Bailey is considering the Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration (HVAC) program. “I enjoy hands-on work,” he explained, noting that HVAC feels like a better fit for him than Electrical Trades.

Career and technical education has evolved. It now helps students gain valuable skills for future jobs, jumpstart their college education, or learn life skills that support their college expenses. At Capital Region BOCES, over 70% of high school students aim for higher education, and many can enter the workforce with specialized skills in areas like cooking or heavy machinery operation.

Students in nearly all of the 27 programs offered earn certifications while gaining real-world experience at local businesses. Excitingly, BOCES is expanding. Two new programs, Plumbing Technology and New Visions: Emerging Technologies, will be introduced in the 2025-26 school year. A third campus, the CTE Extension Center, will open near the current Albany CTE Campus.

Enrollment for the upcoming school year is in progress. For more information on available career and technical education programs, visit Capital Region BOCES.