Tucker Chase is an outstanding example of what young scholars at the Hudson Valley Pathways Academy (HVPA) at Ulster BOCES can achieve. Tucker has been awarded a scholarship from the Career Readiness Educators Association (CREA) of New York State for his exemplary participation in a work-based learning program or experience. Tucker was also named as one of three “Work-Based Learning Students of the Year” by CREA. 

According to Workplace Learning Coordinator at Ulster BOCES Katie Cahill, the scholarship is well deserved. “Tucker is a true leader,” she said. “He is able to inspire his classmates and create an environment where everyone feels valued and engaged.”

Tucker, who comes to HVPA from the Rondout Valley Central School District, explained that he chose the academy’s Advanced Manufacturing path because he grew up spending time working on cars with his father and enjoys both math and art. “I thought being able to make something on my own would be cool,” he said. “I’ve always enjoyed robots too.” 

Tucker is in his fourth year at HVPA, which is a six-year early college high school program that meets on the SUNY Ulster campus in Stone Ridge. Students in the program graduate with both their high school diploma and an associate degree from SUNY Ulster.

Cahill recommended that Tucker apply for the scholarship based on his experience interning with Terraform, a company located in West Hurley that specializes in the fabrication and installation of rooftop gardens, pergolas, and outdoor kitchens. The internship was only intended to be for a summer, but Terraform asked Tucker if he would be interested in continuing through the school year, an offer he gladly accepted. At Terraform, Tucker works directly with the design and build team, running machines, deburring (removing imperfections from materials), performing standard tool maintenance, and creating and producing designs.

In addition to his internship experience, Tucker participates in many workplace learning challenges and project-based learning opportunities through HVPA. As part of a project inspired by the Lemelson-MIT Program’s Engineering Technology and Design Challenge, Tucker helped develop the TIC Detector, a device that uses a thermal camera to detect ticks on pets. He visits farmer’s markets on weekends to demonstrate the detector, which has already received a temporary patent. “The whole goal of the challenge was to invent something to help people in your area,” he explained.

Tucker has also been an instrumental part of the HVPA FIRST Robotics team, having served as a coach for the team for the past three years. He is stepping back from his coaching role this year, but is still working with other young scholars to help them learn skills and manufacture parts. 

Throughout his time at HVPA, Tucker has participated in SkillsUSA (a workforce development organization for students), helped out at Council of Industry (the Hudson Valley’s manufacturing association) networking events, and has been a leader in every industry challenge presented to his chapter at HVPA.

Tucker will spend the next two years at SUNY Ulster completing an Associate of Science in Individual Studies with a major in Advanced Manufacturing. He is balancing schoolwork with his internship and is learning from both. “Now I know what the work environment is like,” he said. “I know what it is like to work in a manufacturing facility, not just what it is like being in a manufacturing classroom, because there is a difference.” 

Looking ahead, Tucker said that he is considering studying architecture, landscape architecture, or possibly even nuclear submarine engineering.