OU BOCES Holds Second Annual Career and Technical Education Signing Day

Career & Technical Education

May 11 2021 10:31 AM

Orange-Ulster BOCES held its second Career and Technical Education (CTE) Signing Day on May 6, 2021. The event recognized 30 seniors who will be heading directly to, or in a few cases have already started, careers at LEGOLAND New York Resort or Levy Restaurants at LEGOLAND.

Orande Daring, Director of Career and Technical Education, explained that though signing days are routinely held for high school athletes committing to college teams, doing the same for CTE students is a new and growing concept intended to help get the word out about the value of CTE.

Representatives from LEGOLAND and Levy Restaurants were on hand to present the students, in a number of small groups, with ceremonial paperwork. Proud family members and OU BOCES faculty and staff members watched remotely.

Jonathan Grant, an aviation student from Pine Bush, started working at LEGOLAND two months ago as an education associate. He helps children build and test their LEGO creations.

“It’s been fun working with children,” said Jonathan, who was wearing a LEGO hat and mask at the ceremony. “When a kid comes in and they build something cool, they come over and say, ‘Mister, mister, look what I built.’ It’s the cutest thing when this 4- or 5-year-old builds a massive structure on the earthquake table and they turn it on and it tumbles down and they jump into the air with excitement.”

Jonathan plans to work at LEGOLAND over the summer and then go to Basic Military Training. After BMT, he will train with the Air National Guard, work six months overseas flying on active duty and then attend college with the goal of a career in military aviation.

Other businesses who have hired CTE seniors include: Glen Arden, Healey Chevy, Sunshine Ford, Village Child Care, Johnstons Subaru, Joe Romer Truck Repair, Orange Urgent Care, Jockey Hollow Vet, Walmart, Parm Restaurant, Warwick Valley Country Club, Stagecoach Inn, and CVS Pharmacy.

OU BOCES offers 37 CTE programs that give students the opportunity to graduate from high school with technical experience, professional skills, and national industry certifications.

The following students have been chosen by LEGOLAND and Levy Restaurants for positions: