What is Ulster BOCES?
Kimberly Kennedy

Ulster BOCES means different things to different people. To Kimberly Kennedy, a former New Visions Communications & Journalism Career Exploration student, Ulster BOCES served as a springboard for her college education and eventual career in communications, while also allowing her to pursue her creative goals. Kimberly, a 2002 graduate of Kingston High School, decided to take the New Visions course during her senior year because she knew she wanted to work in the communications field, but needed to learn more about the specifics of the industry before choosing a major in college.

Kimberly was in one of the first Ulster BOCES New Visions Communications & Journalism classes, along with her twin sister Samantha. When she entered the program, she pictured herself in a public relations job. She received hands-on experience in the field while working as an intern at the renowned Woodstock Film Festival, where she assisted in the day-to-day rigors of the special event.

While completing an internship at Natural Recording Studio in Saugerties, she and her sister recorded an album together under the name Still UnDivided. Recording and promoting the CD allowed Kimberly to combine her talent and love of music with the practical skills she had learned about public relations and journalism in the New Visions program.

After graduating from Kingston High School, Kimberly was accepted to Iona College located in New Rochelle. While studying as an undergraduate there, she had the opportunity to be an intern at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Torino, Italy. “It was the best internship I could have had,” she says. The process for getting the Olympic internship was similar to the process Kimberly had gone through when applying for the Ulster BOCES New Visions Communications & Journalism Career Exploration program, therefore, she felt prepared.

Kimberly graduated with her bachelor’s degree summa cum laude in 2006. Today, she works at Iona College as an admissions counselor, where she engages in public relations by traveling around New England recruiting for the college. She describes her jobs as “putting it out there in the best possible way.” Adding, “While I am on the road, I am Iona’s spokesperson, so it’s important I answer all questions honestly, but highlight all our strengths to prospective students,” says Kimberly, who credits her training through the Ulster BOCES New Visions program for giving her the confidence in her ability to pursue her career goals.

In addition to working full-time at the college, she is also earning credits toward her master’s degree in public relations. Currently, she is learning how to build a company, and hopes to apply her skills to help those in need, such as doing public relations for companies that help the ill, needy and underserved populations of the world. “I’m more interested in non-profit PR,” she says of her future career goals.

The Ulster BOCES New Visions Communications program helped Kimberly to successfully move from high school, to college, to a career by giving her the skills she needed to achieve her goals. “New Visions was precisely the bridging element I was looking for before pursuing an undergraduate mass communication degree at Iona College. I felt extremely prepared going into Iona College because of the phenomenal internship experience and college-like atmosphere the Ulster BOCES New Visions program provided. Not only did the New Visions internships help me gain valuable field experience and begin building a network of professional contacts, I truly believe the program played a major role in helping me obtain an internship with NBC news for the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy. “

Contributing Writer: Kylie Genter New Visions Communications & Journalism Intern, Wallkill High School