Ulster County students enrolled in the Ulster BOCES Career & Technical Center (CTC) and Hudson Valley Pathways Academy (HVPA) are earning a strong reputation for their workplace learning success across New York State by taking on various roles where they are able to showcase their career readiness.

More than a dozen students, known as young professionals at CTC and young scholars at HVPA, recently played pivotal roles in the New York State Career Readiness Educators Association (NYS CREA) Conference. The event brought career and technical teachers, administrators, and work-based learning coordinators from across New York State together at the Venue Uptown in Kingston, New York, for a two-day professional development and networking experience designed to support members in providing their students with "real-world" career development opportunities. 

The young professionals and young scholars served as ambassadors, assisting with session setups and breakdowns, answering attendee questions, and managing behind-the-scenes audio and visual presentations. A team of six young professionals from the Career & Technical Center, who are also members  in the Ulster BOCES Chapter of SkillsUSA, served as panelists for a discussion focused on impactful partnerships and the importance of equity-based project-based learning (PBL). The young professionals shared significant learning experiences, highlighted transferable skills developed through Career & Technical Education (CTE) such as communication, leadership, and problem-solving, and underscored the vital role youth perspectives play in shaping effective educational practices. 

The panel was moderated by Bryce Buntyn, a senior from the Onteora Central School District who attends the half-day Ulster BOCES Aviation/Drone program. Bryce also serves in a state leadership role as area vice president for New York State SkillsUSA, a workforce development organization that empowers students to become skilled professionals, career-ready leaders, and responsible community members.  

The panel discussion left a lasting impression on conference attendees, many of whom were surprised and inspired by the depth of the young professionals’ experiences. “Having the young scholars and young professionals from Ulster BOCES participate in the conference allows them to recognize their value in situations outside of their trade programs,” said CREA President Steve Casa, who is also the Supervisor of Workplace Learning at Ulster BOCES. “It also provides opportunities to showcase leadership skills and build networks, which are vital to their future success.”

Ethan Colon, a young scholar from Kingston City School District who attends HVPA, helped facilitate the conference and found his experience to be highly rewarding. “We were able to network with various industry representatives who demonstrated tools like a Glowforge [a 3D laser printer] and an AI [Artificial Intelligence] assessment that identifies career pathways suited to specific skill sets.”

In addition to Bryce, other members of the panel were Ella Pons, Animal Science program, New Paltz Central School District; Danielle Denu, Animal Science program, Kingston City School District; Alen Ibric, CISCO & Cybersecurity program, Ellenville Central School District; Lucas Miller, Automotive Technology program, Saugerties Central School District; and Brianna Potter, Small Engine Mechanics Repair program, Onteora Central School District.

“The NYS CREA Conference provided a unique platform for HVPA young scholars and Ulster BOCES CTE young professionals to showcase their talents and contribute to the broader conversation about career readiness education,” said Casa. “Through their participation, they not only demonstrated their capabilities but also reinforced the importance of youth perspectives in shaping the future of education.”