Congratulations to Career & Tech's Class of 2006

Outstanding Students, Joseph Fuchs Award Winners named at June 14 ceremonies; Adult PN students graduate on June 28

June is a big month for graduation celebrations, and the Capital Region Career & Technical School is no exception. On just one day, June 14, more than 500 students at two campuses marked completion of their career and technical education studies. Awards and Recognition ceremonies were held in the morning for Schoharie campus students at the Holiday Inn Express across from their school; in the evening, Albany campus students were honored at Proctor's Theatre in Schenectady. During the day, seniors completing one year of two-year Career & Tech programs celebrated their accomplishments on campus. On the evening of June 28, 76 students graduated from Career & Tech's Practical Nursing Program for Adult Students at a ceremony at the Mohonasen High School auditorium.

Career & Tech students come from all corners of the Capital Region. They pursue a range of diplomas: New York State Regents and Advanced Regents, Career & Technical Education-Endorsed Regents, local, Individualized Education Plan (IEP) and GED diplomas. Many leave campus with state and national certifications in hand, bound for higher education or the world of work. Practical Nursing, Nurse Assistant and Cosmetology students begin preparing for state-required licensing examinations.

All of Career & Tech's students have reason to celebrate their accomplishments. While many honors are bestowed each June, a highlight of the annual ceremonies is the recognition of each campus' Outstanding Student of the Year and winner of the annual Joseph N. Fuchs Uniquely Challenged Award.

Rachael Dollar of Rotterdam, a Culinary Arts & Hospitality Technology student, was named Outstanding Student of the Year for Career & Tech's Albany campus. Selected from a group of five nominees by a panel of judges from BOCES' component schools, Dollar was honored for excellence in her Career and Technical and academic studies, work ethic and citizenship, service, leadership and pride in her chosen occupation.

Outstanding! -- Rachel Dollar with Director of Career & Technical Education Hank Stopinski (left) and Albany Campus Principal Tony Krulikowski

A member of the National Technical Honor Society, Dollar is headed to Schenectady County Community College to study baking and pastry. "Rachel was a positive leader in class who was outgoing, reliable and sought out work to be done," said chef-teacher Anders Faltskog, CEC, CCE. Dollar's life goals reflect those traits. "I picture myself as a successful businesswoman," she said. "You will walk down the street and find yourself looking at the delicious pastries in the window of my bakery. I want to become a well-known professional baker and business owner."

Career & Tech's Schoharie campus Outstanding Student of the Year plans on heading to the South for a career teaching elementary school children. Tina Marie Vedder of Cobleskill achieved the highest average of all students in the Children & Education Career Academy, located at Cobleskill-Richmondville High School, and will study early childhood at SUNY Cobleskill in the fall. Of her Outstanding Student, teacher Amy Wright remarked, "Tina comes from a family of nine kids and loves to work with children. She worked very hard and did well in class, with her peers and with children at the Academy."

Future teacher feted -- Schoharie Campus Principal Ray Paglieri with Tina Marie Vedder

In addition to excellence in the classroom, Vedder was recognized for her volunteer activities and work at Whispering Pines Preschool. Reflecting on her Career & Tech Children & Education Career Academy experience, Vedder advised, "It is a lot more fun than 'regular' school, but also hard work. It's not too often you have a class that you are excited to go to."

The Joseph N. Fuchs Uniquely Challenged Award honors Career & Tech students who overcome significant obstacles, including special educational needs, to achieve success in their chosen programs of study. Joseph Finch of Schoharie, a student in Bill Rouleau's Building & Grounds Maintenance class, was named the 2006 Fuchs Award winner the Schoharie Career & Tech campus. Finch, said Rouleau, "deserves the award for his work ethic, positive attitude, ability to get along with others, and his sense of humor. These wonderful strengths far outweigh any 'weaknesses' he may have."

A strong Fuchs Award winner: Joseph Finch is congratulated by Mr. Rouleau

Known for being honest and caring Finch served as role model for his fellow students. He worked many hours on a custom-designed cabinet project for the school conference room, arranged to come to class even when his home high school was closed, and helped deliver newspapers on weekends. "Recently, Joe took on a part-time job at Price Chopper in Cobleskill," added Rouleau, "where I'm sure he'll be a model employee."

Culinary Arts & Hospitality Technology student Melissa Sangalli of Duanesburg was named the Fuchs Award winner for the Albany campus. According to consultant teacher Gretchen McDonough, Sangalli "is a shining example of what this award is meant to show. She started out in [Career & Tech's] Food Services program three years ago and pushed her way through to completion of Culinary Arts II. A year ago," McDonough related, "Melissa decided to go from receiving an Individualized Education Plan diploma to studying for her GED in the BOCES LEAP program. She worked very hard and achieved her GED. She also has been working a local Price Chopper and has been very successful!"

Chef-teacher Mark Brucker, CEC, CCE, also applauded Sangalli. "Melissa is a very deserving student who has progressed well through our various culinary classes. I believe she has what is takes to be successful in our industry."

Success, determination, excellence and positive personal qualities all were honored at the June 28 graduation ceremony for students in Career & Tech's Practical Nursing for Adult Students program. More than 20 awards were bestowed, recognizing students of all ages, backgrounds and interests who completed a rigorous, full-day, 10-month course of study that will prepare them to test to become New York State Licensed Practical Nurses.

Theatre Arts Technology students Aaron Kovacik, Lee Ann Mesick and Kayla Sacco donated their professional services to the Albany campus awards ceremony at Proctor's Theatre, where their class was based. Kovacik and Mesick are off to college next fall, while Sacco, a junior, will return for a second year of the program. The floral arrangement was created by Career & Tech Floral Design and Botanical Services students.

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