Questar III Green Technologies and Renewable Energy instructor Gene Mattiaccio shows Congressman Chris Gibson solar panels used in his high school program.
Over 400 parents and students attended the first-ever Career Expo held at Birch Hill in Schodack. Students in grades 7-12, parents, educators and the community were invited to learn about exciting careers for the future.
Career Expo 2012 focused on careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). Questar III BOCES and Greenville, Ichabod Crane and Schodack Central School Districts hosted the Career Expo, along with the Center for Economic Growth.
The free, interactive event featured representatives from local companies who showed real-life examples of how science and technology affect all professions. Organizations also provided information about local educational opportunities. The companies that attended include:
- 1st Playable Productions
- Albany Valve & Fitting Company
- Biochemical/Biophysical Research – Kinsley French, RPI Student, former New Visions
- Bryant & Stratton Criminal Justice & LPN Professionals
- College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering
- Columbia County Crime Scene
- Columbia-Greene Community College
- Columbia-Greene Community College – Microbiology
- Columbia Land Conservancy/Environmental Educator
- Crawford & Associates (Engineers)
- Department of Environmental Conservation
- Dr. Karyn Dorneman, Chiropractor
- East Greenbush Animal Hospital
- Ecology and Environment, Inc.
- Empire State Carpenters Apprentice
- GE Healthcare
- Green Technologies/Questar
- HVCC
- HVCC – Health Care Careers
- IT – Questar, Lewis Cappelli
- KoolTemp Heating and Cooling
- Daniel Macomber – Navy/Nuclear
- Mechanical Technology/Questar
- New Visions/Tech Valley Camp
- Sundog Solar
- Brent Solina
- STEM – Tammie Borland
- SUNY Cobleskill
- Vicarious Visions
Schodack CSD Superintendent Robert Horan noted the Career Expo fit perfectly with the district’s focus on introducing new technologies like photovoltaics and semiconductors into the district’s curriculum. With the region’s growing technology sector, he said it’s essential to prepare students for these types of careers.
“We were honored to co-host this event right here at Birch Hill in Schodack,” said Mr. Horan. “There are new emerging careers in science, technology and engineering that our students and their parents may not be aware of. We encouraged all students, parents and interested community members to take advantage of this event to learn about possible new and exciting careers.”
Mike Veeder, owner of Kool-Temp Heating and Cooling, based in Coxsackie, enjoyed introducing careers to students at a young age. He said, “This was a terrific opportunity for young students to experience a variety of different paths for their future. It was a chance to help students carve their future careers.”
In addition to exhibitors, there were two panel presentations: Careers in Health Care and Emerging Technologies. The panelists discussed their career path and answered questions from the audience.
The Career Expo was sponsored by the Tech Valley Career Pathways Consortium, a partnership between Questar III BOCES, Capital Region BOCES, SUNY Cobleskill, Columbia-Greene Community College, Hudson Valley Community College, Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex BOCES, and Schenectady County Community College. The Consortium is developing programs in green technologies, advanced manufacturing systems, nanotechnology and bioscience at both the high school and college levels. The Consortium also works to improve the connection between other career and technical education programs taught at the high school level with degree programs offered at local colleges. This event was made possible by the New York State Education Department with federal funding under the Carl Perkins Vocational and Applied Education Improvement Act of 2006.
