OUB Celebrates Career and Technical Education Month

Orange-Ulster BOCES is proud to celebrate February as Career and Technical Education Month, recognizing the programs that equip students with industry standard skills and clear pathways to rewarding, well-paying careers.

With two CTE campuses in Goshen, CTE students don't just explore career options; they build the technical expertise, professional certifications, and real-world confidence that employers, colleges, and military branches actively seek. These programs ensure that when seniors graduate, they're not just ready for what's next, they're ahead of it.

“We’re excited about all the opportunities our Career and Technical Education programs provide,” said the OUB Chief Operating Officer Deborah McBride Heppes. “OUB offers a fabulous range of programs, and we work hard to make sure our programming is aligned with emerging workforce needs, especially those right here in the Hudson Valley.”

Over the coming weeks, hundreds of students from OUB’s component school districts will visit OUB to tour facilities, meet industry teachers, and explore the wide variety of CTE pathways available to them. Students enrolled at OUB spend half of their school day at their high school and the other half actively engaged in hands-on professional training on an OUB campus. 

“BOCES was truly the best decision I made in high school,” said Arianna LeCruise, a 2024 graduate of the OUB Fashion and Interior Design Program and Pine Bush High School. “It gave me confidence, allowed me to explore my interests without fear of failure, and prepared me for the realities of college and the fashion industry,” she said. Now, she's pursuing her bachelor's degree in fashion merchandising at Marist University. 

CTE Month is a national public awareness campaign held every February to spotlight the value of CTE education. Organized by the Association for Career and Technical Education, it recognizes student accomplishments, industry partnerships, and learning in fields like technology, health, and the skilled trades. 

For Emily Perricelli, a Dental Careers student from Minisink Valley Central School District, her time at OUB has been about more than technical training; it has been a place to develop and expand her leadership skills. "Not only was I elected president of my class but I was also selected as a student board member to represent students at OUB.”

Emily’s growth inside the classroom has been matched by industry experience. “I have an internship position at Dr. Lackee's Dental office that I truly enjoy. My clinical experiences as a part of my program at BOCES has helped me make the decision to continue my education at SUNY Orange to pursue their dental hygiene program.”

Julius Miles, of Washingtonville Central School District said, "Being part of the OUB Electrical Program changed my life by giving me the strong foundation I needed to get my foot in the door in the electrical field. The hands-on experience, real-world skills, and guidance showed me what hard work and dedication can truly lead to.”

Liam Hunter, of Minisink Valley High School, is a student in the Construction Academy and has already earned the OSHA 10-Hour Safety and Health certification, a credential that opens doors to job placement right out of high school. "It’s been an amazing experience that I genuinely look forward to every single day," he said.

And Le´Ann Baxley, a 2023 graduate of Pine Bush High School and the OUB Welding Program, turned an early passion - sparked by working in the garage with her dad - into a career. After graduation, she landed a job at Orange County Ironworks, where she has built a reputation as a skilled welder with an exceptional work ethic. She credits her CTE teacher, Mr. Weimer, with preparing her to hit the ground running.

“It’s challenging and I put in a lot of hours,” Le’Ann said, “but I really love my job.”