Ulster BOCES-trained young professionals Levi Peterson and Tyler Bradley spent much of their senior year of high school as paid electrical construction interns with National Resources, a real estate and investment firm that is currently renovating the former IBM site in Kingston to become the future home of the Ulster BOCES Career Pathways Academies at iPark 87. 

Levi, who graduated from New Paltz High School (NPHS) in June, first met Phillip Newhard, National Resources general manager for the iPark 87 project, at an Ulster BOCES event in spring of 2023 while he was a junior enrolled in the Electrical Construction program at the Ulster BOCES Career & Technical Center. He interviewed for the internship a few days later. 

Shortly after he began his internship, Levi encouraged Tyler (who is also from NPHS) to apply for an internship at National Resources as well. 

Both Levi and Tyler, who are pursuing careers as electricians, are grateful that Ulster BOCES provided them this opportunity. ”It meant a lot to me,” said Levi. “The Ulster BOCES Electrical Construction course was amazing, and it has been really exciting to be a part of this.” 

One of the key work experiences the young professionals have gained is jobsite management during an active demolition. A large part of the work Levi and Tyler were focused on at iPark 87 was making sure electrical systems were safely shut down before demolition began. “Safety was a big factor with the work we were doing,” explained Tyler. “We needed to make sure the power was off and everyone was safe before they demoed each area.” 

At Ulster BOCES, the young professionals completed the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s 10-Hour Course for Construction, a credential indicating they have specific training and knowledge to help prevent injuries and promote a safe and productive workplace. “We had to make sure we had the proper lockout/tagout procedures in place when working with electricity,” said Levi. “Being in the field is a lot different from working on your electrical board in the classroom.”

Since bringing on the interns, Newhard has been impressed. “Levi and Tyler have been monumentally successful since they started just over a year ago,” he said. He has watched their skills, knowledge, and confidence grow. “They have done great work with various projects including working alongside electricians to install LED lighting in the former cafeteria that is now a warehouse space,” he added.

For this project, the aspiring electricians were tasked with plotting the location and dimensions for light distribution throughout the work area. They benefited from working directly with iPark 87 project engineer Bob Newhard, and their work was checked several times a week by Jim Dwyer, a retired master electrician. “We had to calculate how many feet apart we wanted the lights spaced to most efficiently illuminate the space,” explained Levi. 

Time management is another skill the young professionals have developed and is an important part of participating in an internship while still in high school. “The management team was very flexible, which was important for us as students,” said Levi. “That flexibility came because we gained their respect by being on top of everything.” 

Both Levi and Tyler graduated from NPHS on June 26, and are headed to Alfred State College of Technology this fall to pursue their Associate of Occupational Studies (AOS) degree in the Electrical Construction and Maintenance Electrician program. Levi recently interviewed and received a job offer to join the electrical team at Rycor Heating & Cooling, where he plans to work this summer and on school breaks. Tyler is looking for a similar position. They have already introduced another young professional from Ulster BOCES to their National Resources mentors as an option to fill their spots at iPark 87 while they move on to continue their journey to becoming licensed electricians.