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April 2026 CTE Monthly Newsletter by JILLIAN SHUHART

Women make up less than 5% of all skilled trade workers in the United States. But this number is rising, as more women attend career and technical education and trade schools. With the country facing a shortage of skilled trade workers, women are helping to fill the gap, bringing their talent, perspectives, and skills to the table.

Mia Robles is a senior in the HVAC program at Robert H. Gibson Technical School from Rensselaer CSD.

Mia Robles is a senior in the Questar III BOCES HVAC program at Robert H. Gibson Technical School from Rensselaer City School District. She is also a New York State SkillsUSA Officer, serving as Vice President of Area III.

“In middle school, I chose an engineering elective,” Mia said. “I had a really wonderful teacher, Mr. Bryden, and I really enjoyed being hands-on. He told me about BOCES and how I could be even more hands-on on a larger scale. When I toured Questar, I knew this was what I wanted to do.”

When first exploring CTE programs, Mia considered Construction, HVAC, and Nursing, influenced by her father, a nursing professor. She ultimately realized nursing wasn’t the right fit, and after reflecting on the physical demands of construction, found her place in HVAC.

Mia shared some of what she’s learned, including brazing, soldering, and how to wire a thermostat. Students spend two years in the program, learning the skills to design, install, and repair HVAC/R systems, while also developing soft skills and becoming college and career ready.  Career readiness also includes earning certifications, including the EPA 608, required of all HVAC technicians, and OSHA 10.

“There’s a benefit to getting these certifications while you’re young,” Mia said. “If an employer is between you and another person who doesn’t have it, you’re going to be more likely to get hired. And, you won’t have to pay out of pocket for it.”

Mia Robles works on a furnace while working with Main Care Energy.

Mia already had her first employment experience when she was matched with Main Care Energy last summer through our Youth Apprenticeship Program. This program gives students a chance to earn a minimum of 200 hours of paid, on the job training. It allows employers to connect with young talent who are eager to work.

“They had me try the office on my first day, and if I liked it, I could work there all summer,” Mia said. “I went crazy, I thought it was so boring. So, then I went out into the field. I was partnered with different senior HVAC techs. We’d go into people’s homes, take care of the job, and wait for the next job to come through. I learned some really good customer service skills and how to troubleshoot. I was excited to go to work every morning, and I know not a lot of people get to say that.”

During her apprenticeship, Mia was the only female tech. This wasn’t anything new for her, as she is the only female student in her class. She is grateful to at least have a female teaching assistant, Aerianna Kristel (Ms. A), to confide in.

“I was definitely nervous when I started,” Mia said. “When we did our walk through, I assumed there would be at least one other girl who signed up for the program. But I came and saw a class full of guys. There have been a few tough days, but I know Ms. A has my back. It’s nice because I know she understands.”

While working in the field at Main Care Energy, Mia laughed at some of the feedback from customers. She shared that while female customers would hype her up, she had many instances where male customers thought she was the senior tech’s daughter or granddaughter.

“I just let it roll,” Mia explained. “The daughter or granddaughter comments, I see the age difference. As long as I’m getting paid.”

Mia shared a story about a young girl who attended Holiday House last year, a SkillsUSA fundraiser designed for young children to explore the trades and celebrate the holiday season. She shared how a father brought his young daughter into the HVAC room for an activity and she seemed interested in the program.

“She kept looking at my pink safety glasses and asked if I was in the program,” Mia said. “Talking to her, I thought it was the sweetest thing ever. It made me want to continue my passion! Her dad told her that she could be in the program someday. When I hear a little girl tell me that I’m what they want to be, that’s really inspiring.”

Mia Robles (right) poses in front of the Capitol Building in Washington, DC with Josh Trop (left), Questar III Gaming student and NYS SkillsUSA Officer at Large – Community Service.

Last year, Mia ran for a SkillsUSA New York State officer position. She compared the campaign experience to something she did when she was younger.

“Growing up, I did a lot of pageants and public speaking, I’ve always enjoyed having that platform,” Mia shared. “I had to design a poster, hand out tchotchkes, give a speech, interview, take a SkillsUSA quiz, and answer an on stage question, all to get student votes. I really enjoyed my experience, and now I play a part in the Area III Regional Conference.”

Being Vice President has allowed Mia to use her voice and leadership skills to promote and advocate for the trades in Washington, DC, attend and help organize leadership conferences, work with other officers across the state on SkillsUSA bylaws, and more. She is also responsible for running the SkillsUSA New York State Instagram page.

With graduation just a couple of months away, Mia is preparing for what comes next. She will be attending Hudson Valley Community College in the fall for Business Administration, and hopes to return to Main Care Energy. In the future, she’d like to see herself as the CEO of an HVAC business.

“Really make sure that you love the program you’re in,” Mia said. “It’s going to be hard and a lot of work, so you have to make sure you really love it. And I do.”

Women make up less than 5% of all skilled trade workers in the United States. But this number is rising, as more women attend career and technical education and trade schools. With the country facing a shortage of skilled trade workers, women are helping to fill the gap, bringing their talent, perspectives, and skills to the table.

Simone Beaumont is a senior in the Questar III BOCES Welding program at Donald R. Kline Technical School from Greenville Central School District.

Simone Beaumont is a senior in the Questar III BOCES Welding program at Donald R. Kline Technical School from Greenville Central School District. Welding wasn’t always definite for Simone; in fact, there was another Questar III program she was interested in in her sophomore year.

“My first pick for a while was cosmetology,” Simone shared. “When I came to look at courses here, it was welding and cosmetology. I started looking into welding more and saw more benefits. I also like routine, and in welding, once you know it and get called to a job site, you know what you’re going to do every time.”

Simone is one of four female welders in her class. When she first started the program, she was happy to know one young woman already.

“I already knew one girl, and we made friends with the other two,” Simone said. “Going into it, I was a little bit nervous, but I’ve always had guy friends. I was looking at it like, they’re going into this with similar thinking. I feel like a lot of people were just waiting for someone to speak up and have a conversation, and I’ll be the one to do that. But I don’t think I was at first. We do now, but they’re always short conversations. Our learning is in the booth, so if we’re talking, we’re not learning.”

Simone has already learned to torch cut, stick, and TIG weld, and is getting started on MIG welding. She’s also filing away her certifications, including OSHA 30, and National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI) welding certifications. NOCTI exams serve as a bridge from high school to college or the workforce, showing that students have both the written knowledge and hands-on skills to be proficient in their field.

Simeone Beaumont welds while at Peckham Industries where she participates in the Youth Apprenticeship Program.

Simone had the opportunity to work on her skills last summer and learn some new ones when she was matched with Peckham Industries through our Youth Apprenticeship Program. This program gives students a minimum of 200 hours of paid, on-the-job training and first-hand experience of what it’s like to work in that field. By a stroke of luck, Simone was partnered with Elise Maland, a 2025 graduate of our welding program who also worked at Peckham Industries when she was in the program, and stayed working there after graduation.

“She was an awesome mentor,” Simone said. “I don’t think I could have found a better place to have an apprenticeship. The work setting was great, the people were great, and I made friends with everyone in the shop. I expanded my knowledge of machinery as well. I welded, but also did oil changes on the big trucks. I now have knowledge in other places that aren’t welding, but will help me later in life. It was a very cool experience, and the people working there made it even better.”

With her senior year winding down, Simone still has one main goal ahead of her – to continue learning and growing as a welder. She will be attending Alfred State College next year to earn an Associate Degree in welding.

“My main goal is to perfect as much as I can now,” Simone said. “Questar is a good platform for me as I head to college. My whole reason for going from welding school to welding school is to be the best at it, to perfect my skills in all areas of welding. Whether that be fabrication, blueprints, or anything else that goes into being a good welder and fabricator, I want to be the best at it.”

Oftentimes, CTE students who continue their studies in college can take advantage of an articulation agreement or skip entry level courses for the program, since they already have a foundation in the field. Simone, however, doesn’t want to take advantage of those opportunities, to continue finding new ways to learn.

“I love already knowing how to do something and then getting walked through it again with somebody else, a new teacher,” explained Simone. “I don’t want to change the amount of time I will be there, so I want to go and do the whole thing. As I said, my main goal is to perfect as much as I can.”

After college, Simone is keeping her options open. She is considering the differing benefits of owning her own mobile welding business, joining a union, becoming a weld inspector, or entering an apprenticeship. She is thankful for her family, especially her father and brother, for the impact they have made on her work ethic and future planning.

Simone offered a bit of advice for young girls who weren’t sure if welding could be in their future:

“Don’t be afraid that because it’s a man’s workforce, that a women can’t succeed. You have more ground to stand on than you think.”

 

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Questar III BOCES Medal Winners from Donald R. Kline and Robert H. Gibson Technical Schools pose for a photo with District Superintendent, Dr. Gladys Cruz; Assistant Superintendent of CTE, Kevin Kolakowski; Donald R. Kline Technical School Principal, Kate Nickerson; Robert H. Gibson Technical School Principal, Eric Papandrea.

On March 18, 2026, Questar III BOCES students earned 17 medals in the New York State Area III Regional Competition. Nearly 100 students from Donald R. Kline and Robert H. Gibson Technical Schools showcased the career and technical skills related to their program, along with career readiness and leadership skills, competing against another 350 students, representing 10 schools from Plattsburgh to Hudson.

Questar III BOCES swept two categories at the event, winning first, second, and third place medals in the First Aid/CPR and Cosmetology Senior competitions. Congratulations to our students on an excellent competition!

Questar III BOCES swept the First Aid/CPR category, earning the first, second, and third place medals.

Donald R. Kline Technical School

• Anthony Roeber (Cairo-Durham CSD), First Aid/CPR, First Place
• Andrew Cornelison (Catskill CSD), Carpentry, Second Place
• Natalie DiCaprio (Catskill CSD), First Aid/CPR, Second Place
• Olivia Salo-McCloskey (Ichabod Crane CSD), Cosmetology Senior, Second Place

Robert H. Gibson Technical School

• Samantha Carey (Averill Park CSD), Cosmetology Junior, First Place
• Chad Castle (Troy CSD), HVAC, First Place
• Scott Coondradt (Troy CSD), Carpentry, First Place
• Martin Gibbons (Averill Park CSD), Precision Heavy Equipment Operations, First Place
• Helen Ketzer (East Greenbush CSD), Cosmetology Senior, First Place
• Erika Tirino (East Greenbush CSD), Job Demonstration, First Place
• Zach Dahl (Brunswick CSD), Diesel Equipment, Second Place
  

  Helen Ketzer works on her mannequin during the Cosmetology Senior competition. Questar III BOCES students swept the category, winning first, second, and third place medals. Helen won first place.

• Juiana Leibach (East Greenbush CSD), Food Prep Basic, Second Place
• Nyla Bores (East Greenbush CSD), First Aid/CPR, Third Place
• Josh Garrison (East Greenbush CSD), Related Technical Math, Third Place
• Chrisdina Thomas-Grumm (Troy CSD), Food Prep Basic, Third Place
• Johnny Wang (Troy CSD), HVAC, Third Place
• Amaia Williams (Averill Park CSD), Cosmetology Senior, Third Place

Outside of the competition, both schools had students participate in other activities at the event, including:

House of Delegates

• Elizabeth Carrier
• Madelyn Danaher
• Kaylee Lehman
• Madison Lehman
• Nicole Molinares
• Mia Robles
• Joshia Trop
• Riley VanDerVoort

Security Corps

• Erabella Albert Thomas
• Mariah Allen
• Abbiegail Bannen
• Savannah Bradley
• Aidan Meenagh

Student Photographer

• Julianna Di Giovanni

Additionally, Questar III BOCES Robert H. Gibson Technical School SkillsUSA Advisor, Beth O’Brien, was nominated as the SkillsUSA Advisor of the Year. The winner will be announced at the SkillsUSA NYS Competition in Syracuse next month. She has been an advisor of the chapter since 2019.

Women make up less than 5% of all skilled trade workers in the United States. But this number is rising, as more women attend career and technical education and trade schools. With the country facing a shortage of skilled trade workers, women are helping to fill the gap, bringing their talent, perspectives, and skills to the table.

Cassandra Norton is a Fire Science student at Donald R. Kline Technical School from Cairo-Durham CSD.

Cassandra Nostrand is a junior in the Questar III BOCES Fire Science program at Donald R. Kline Technical School from Cairo-Durham Central School District. She is also an active member of the Cairo Fire Department. Cassandra was exposed to the fire service at a young age.

“I was probably 5 or 6 hanging out (at the fire house),” Cassandra shared. “It was imprinted on me at a young age; it made me realize what I wanted to do. I really liked being around them.”

The Fire Science program is a one-year program available to juniors and seniors in Columbia and Greene Counties. Offered in partnership with the counties, it gives high school students the unique experience to earn their Basic Exterior Fire Operations (BEFO) certification during the school day over the course of a 10-month school year. This is the most basic certification required of firefighters in New York State. When a student takes the course on their own, they first must wait for the county to offer a class, hope it fits into their schedule, and find their own transportation. While doing this will take less time to complete, it doesn’t offer as much in-depth training, nor does it explore other fire service skills outside of the BEFO course.

“We’ve been doing ladders, throwing water, and forced entry lately,” Cassandra said. “This spring, we’ll do search and rescue, even though it’s not part of the BEFO course. We get a little more freedom to do more because we have so much more time in the course.”

Of course, new firefighters can also learn these skills directly through their fire department drills. But learning them here prepares them even more when they step foot into their firehouse.

“You don’t get as much hands-on time at the firehouse,” Cassandra said. “I also think it’s more hands-on here than (firehouse) drills. I think coming here to get hands-on and then going back there helps a lot.”

In addition to learning basic firefighting skills, students are also exposed to career options within the industry. While becoming a volunteer or paid firefighter is a clear pathway, others include EMS or 911 Dispatchers. Not only does learning about this help when making career decisions, but it also provides a clearer understanding of how the agencies work together.

“We went to the Greene County 911 Center,” said Cassandra. “It was a lot calmer there than I thought, and I thought there would be more people. But it was a good experience.”

L-R: Isabella Briggs, Rhianna Edelman, and Cassandra Nostrand work with clinical instructor Liza Dwon to tie knots around a saw as they practice safe tool hoisting techniques.

Cassandra is one of three female students in the Fire Science program. They also have a female clinical instructor to look up to for inspiration, Liza Dwon, who works alongside their teacher, Greg Fox.

“Mr. Fox is fun to be around, but I like it when Ms. Dwon is here, too,” Cassandra explained. “I think having a female instructor really helps. Izzy, Rhianna, and I are pretty close with her.”

Being just one of three females in the class didn’t bother Cassandra, especially since she knew the other two girls. Still, she felt the need to show her classmates what she was capable of.

“I think we all put in a fair amount of effort,” Cassandra said. “I did have to prove myself. I think they underestimated me because I’m small.”

Next year, Cassandra will be returning to Questar III BOCES to join the EMT program, a one-year program for seniors. After high school, she plans to enter the workforce and would like to become a paid EMT or Paramedic, while continuing to volunteer with her local fire company.

 

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Women make up less than 5% of all skilled trade workers in the United States. But this number is rising, as more women attend career and technical education and trade schools. With the country facing a shortage of skilled trade workers, women are helping to fill the gap, bringing their talent, perspectives, and skills to the table.

Isabella Satalino is a senior in the Welding program at Robert H. Gibson Technical School from East Greenbush CSD.

Questar III BOCES student Isabella Satalino is a senior in the Welding program at Robert H. Gibson Technical School from East Greenbush Central School District. She first became interested in welding at just twelve years old.”

“I have always been a hands-on type of person,” Isabella shared. “I hated just sitting in the house. My grandfather introduced me to welding and showed me how to do it. When I first started, I was a little skeptical. But as he told me more and more things, I was getting more into it. When (Questar III) started doing Open Houses, I think I came to every single one of them. Hearing Mr. Cowell talk about the program, I was like, ‘I think this is my cup of tea!’”

Isabella applied to the program during her sophomore year and was accepted to the school’s inaugural welding class. Although she knew this was where she wanted to be, she did share that it was a little intimidating entering a male-dominated field, and thus a male-dominated class. She is one of two females in her class.

“I didn’t know a single person here, even with a bunch of students from my home district,” Isabella said. “It was definitely a little overwhelming, but I was like, ‘Whatever, I don’t care. This is for me, not for them. All I want to do is go out and make money.’”

Since enrolling in the program, Isabella has mastered many welding skills from Mr. David Colwell, her welding teacher, and has earned several National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI) welding certifications, along with her OSHA 10. Certifications such as these show employers that our students are proficient in their trade and have the background training and certification they need for the workforce.

Isabella Satalino works on a truck at SM Gallivan where she received 200 hours of paid on the job training through our Youth Apprenticeship Program.

Isabella had her first experience with that last summer when she participated in our Youth Apprenticeship Program. She was matched with a local employer and received a minimum of 200 hours of paid on the job training the summer following her junior year.

“It was a good experience and definitely opened my eyes to what it’s like to work for somebody,” Isabella said. “I definitely learned that I don’t want to sit in a shop all day, I want to go places and do different types of welding.”

With less than four months until graduation, Isabella is already reflecting on her Questar III BOCES experience, crediting the school with giving her direction and the skills for what’s to come next.

“It would be different if I weren’t here, I don’t think I would know what I would do after high school,” said Isabella. “I already knew in my sophomore year that college wasn’t going to be for me. I was so happy that I found something. It’s been great. You learn so much. You would never think you would learn as much as you do in two years, but it’s coming to an end. I think I can go out into the workforce right after high school and fit in with everyone else.”

Isabella has already secured post graduation employment and will be working with a welding company with opportunities to travel across the country. Isabella was excited about this prospect as it aligns with one of her career goals.

“I want to travel all over, find the biggest jobs that I can go on, and keep making money,” Isabella said. “I’m not looking to do one specific thing, just wherever it takes me.”

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March 2026 CTE Monthly Newsletter by JILLIAN SHUHART

Join us throughout the month of February as we celebrate all things CTE. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn to learn more about our programs and our students.

Sebastian Dermott is a senior in the Culinary Arts program at Donald R, Kline Technical School from Hudson City School District.

Sebastian Dermott is a senior in the Culinary Arts program at Donald R. Kline Technical School from Hudson City School District. Cooking has always been a family activity that he enjoyed. When he was home more during COVID, it occurred to him that he could take his passion and turn it into a career.

“I figured out I could make money doing this,” Sebastian said. “When I saw that Questar III would teach us skills that we could later use to apply for college and jobs, I decided to join.”

Over the two-year program, students are exposed to options within the culinary world. Sebastian shared that his junior year was focused on sanitation, kitchen safety, and baking, but that he was excited to do more savory cooking in his senior year.

“I like baking, but you’ve got to have exact measurements,” Sebastian said. “But with savory cooking, you get to experiment with different flavors and techniques to make it your own.”

During his time at Donald R. Kline Technical School, he has had the opportunity to meet professional chefs from around the area, including those from different colleges and culinary schools. Sebastian felt like meeting these chefs, especially those from culinary schools, was a positive experience for students, regardless of whether they planned to attend college or enter the workforce after graduation.

“The chefs gave us demonstrations on different dishes that they make at their colleges,” Sebastian said. “That was really nice, because not only are you learning different techniques from these professionals, but you’re also getting more info that will help prepare you, whether you plan to attend their college or enter the workforce.”

Students also work with a professional chef every day, their teacher, Chef Amanda Repko. Sebastian spoke fondly about Chef Repko and the guidance she provided him.

“She is amazing,” Sebastian said. “She has helped me out both personally and with my culinary skills. She’s one of those people that you can talk to anytime about anything. She’s not only a mentor, but has been a reference for jobs, and she wrote my letter of recommendation for college. She’s one of those teachers who, no matter what, will go above and beyond for her students.”

Students earn several certifications through this program, including ServSafe, First Aid, and CPR. These certifications help students land jobs immediately, which Sebastian has already seen firsthand.

“ServSafe will help you get a job easier, that’s how I got my job, I beat out other candidates,” Sebastian explained. “Having the certifications also presents different opportunities to make money and network with people.”

Sebastian currently works at Pomodoro’s, a pizza place in Catskill. While this is not his end goal, he appreciates his time there now as a dishwasher and line cook.

“I want to gain the experience working in a restaurant where a lot of orders are coming through,” Sebastian said. “It’s going to be high stress, but I’d rather learn how to manage that now than at a fine dining restaurant in the future.”

Sebastian is active in school activities. He is the Treasurer of the school’s SkillsUSA Chapter and a competitor at the ProStart Competition held at The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park.

“The competition is great for networking,” Sebastian shared. “You’re meeting all these professional Michelin star chefs and other students who are also interested in cooking. It’s great being able to meet and talk to people about what they’re doing.”

“SkillsUSA is a very community-based program,” said Sebastian. “One of the main things we do (in leadership training) is learn how to help our classmates with anything they need help with. We want to help people, we want to make sure they feel heard. I use my position to help students across all programs as much as I can.”

With graduation around the corner, Sebastian is planning for what’s next. He was recently accepted into the Culinary Institute of America and plans to attend in the fall for Business Management with a Culinary degree. Like so many high school seniors, Sebastian is excited for the opportunity, but also a little nervous about what’s next.

“I’m heading to a different school after being at Hudson (CSD) for over a decade,” Sebastian said. “It’ll be a different environment, and so much will change. But at the same time, I feel like I’m ready, especially through this program. I feel like I’m going to have the upper hand and the knowledge to overcome that nervousness. I’m ready.”

Join us throughout the month of February as we celebrate all things CTE. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn to learn more about our programs and our students.

Chad Castle is a senior in the HVAC program at Robert H. Gibson Technical School from Troy CSD.

Chad Castle is a senior in the Questar III BOCES HVAC program at Robert H. Gibson Technical School from Troy City School District. Chad was exploring career options when he attended an Open House in 10^th grade.

“I thought I’d come and look at some of the programs, and that’s when I realized that I wanted to be hands-on instead of learning at a desk,” Chad shared. “The HVAC program stood out to me because you’re never really going to be looking at the same (project) every day.”

Through this program, students learn the fundamental skills in HVAC systems through a blend of traditional classroom instruction and hands-on learning. Part of that instruction includes integrated math and science in their junior year, and integrated English in their senior year. Chad shared that he’s always loved math and science, but found it to be easier.

“They’re more for your future,” Chad stated. “We learned about your credit score, car insurance, health insurance, and taxes. It also relates to your industry. In HVAC, we look more into the chemicals we’ll be using, like refrigerants, for science. And in math, we did a lot of fractions and reciprocals. That’s definitely helped this year, because now we’re using (the math) in our English paper for heat loss.”

Students are also working on their portfolios in English, which include their resume, application, cover letter, title page, and the awards and certifications they’ve received over the two years. Certifications found in Chad’s portfolio include OSHA and the EPA 608, which is required by all persons who maintain, service, repair of dispose of appliances that contain ozone depleting refrigerants.

Students are also presented with opportunities to develop their soft skills. Chad felt his leadership and communication skills have improved since joining CTE.

“Usually, I’d be the one to go to school, sit in the back, not talk to anyone, and just get my work done. Now I help lead the class and lead them through tasks.”

Chad Castle showcases his HVAC skills and placed third in the HVAC category at the 2025 SkillsUSA Region 3 Competition.

Another way to develop those skills is to be active with events at the school. As a member of SkillsUSA, he helped plan their annual Holiday House and competed in last year’s Region 3 tournament, finishing 3^rd in HVAC. He also joined the Youth Apprenticeship Program, which allowed him 200 hours of paid on the job training this past summer. Chad was matched with Bold Refrigeration, Heating, and AC.

“It was a great experience,” Chad said. “I learned a lot because I was actually moving around, experiencing what it’s like in the real world instead of being in a warm classroom. I helped clean AC units, and if there was a problem, I’d have to figure out what was wrong.”

In addition to the colleagues he met over the summer, he’s also met several industry professionals who have visited the classroom. They’re able to share advice on how to get started, while also pitching the benefits of working for their company.

“You get to make outside connections while you’re still a student,” Chad said. “Most of these guest speakers are still looking for people to hire.”

As for Bold Refrigeration, Heating, and AC, they’ve invited Chad to return after graduation. He plans to return to gain more experience.

“My experience here has been really amazing,” Chad shared. “All the teachers are very helpful and dedicated to what they do. I’d suggest going to an open house, get your name in the building, and see if you’re interested. The counselors are going to look at your background, so keep up on your classes, have good attendance, and be ready.”

Join us throughout the month of February as we celebrate all things CTE. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn to learn more about our programs and our students.

Ava Noel is a senior in the Aviation program at Donald R. Kline Technical School from Schodack CSD.

Questar III BOCES student Ava Noel is a senior in the Aviation program at Donald R. Kline Technical School from Schodack Central School District. Last year, she was the first person in her class to conduct a solo flight, before she could even earn a driver’s license.

“Ever since I was younger, I’ve always loved to travel,” shared Ava. “I’ve always seen a career in aviation, but at first, it was more of a flight attendant path. But when I learned that it’s possible to become a pilot through this program, I quickly joined.”

Once school started, Ava wasted no time getting into an airplane. She took her discovery flight in a Cirrus SR22, sharing that it’s a 4-person, $1.5 Million mini jet and one of the most high-tech airplanes available.

“It was just unreal,” Ava said. “We went up for about 45 minutes to an hour. I got to fly the airplane a little bit. There was this feeling inside me that felt like, this is what I want to do for the rest of my life. I felt complete. I felt like I found that piece of me that was missing that I was searching for.”

Soon after her discovery flight, Ava was ready to take to the skies on her own. While she admits she was a bit nervous, she said it was a good type of nervousness.

“Once I hit full throttle, all of the nerves went away,” Ava explained. “It was just all professionalism that both my (flight) instructor and (teacher) Mr. Radek (Wyrzykowski) taught me, it all came together.”

But there’s a lot more to this program than just jumping into airplanes. Through their classwork, students learn about aircrafts, flight instruments, classifications, reading maps, radio communication procedures, weather, decision making, and so much more. They’ve had several guest pilots in from organizations like the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Delta Airlines, worked with flight instructors at area airports, and have taken field trips to places like the Albany Air Traffic Control Tower. And just like all our CTE teachers, Aviation teacher Radek Wyrzykowski is a pilot himself with years of experience.

“Mr. Radek is one of the smartest people that I know,” Ava shared. “He is a wealth of knowledge and shares everything he knows with us. I’m never afraid to ask him a question because he’ll always have an answer. He makes me push myself harder every single day and supports everyone’s goals. I’m very grateful to have him as a teacher.”

Outside of flight time, classroom instruction, and networking with aviation professionals, students also build essential soft skills. For Ava, teamwork stands out as the most important.

“I think working with a team is very important as a pilot, and we learn a lot of that here,” Ava said. “When you’re in the airlines, or any pilot job, you have to be able to work with your team. Whether you’re the captain, first officer, flight attendant, ground crew, or air traffic control, everyone is working together to make that flight happen.”

Ava was forced to wait until her senior year to earn her FAA Private Pilot’s License, which she did soon after her 17^th birthday in October. Since then, she has also earned her Complex and Tailwheel Endorsements.

“Towards my flying, I’ve probably paid less than $500 for all my flight training. This program has saved me probably tens of thousands of dollars. It’s helped me earn my Private Pilot’s License, I’ve met new people, visited new places. I’ve gotten so many opportunities just through this program.”

Following graduation, Ava plans to attend a 4-year college, with the hope of finishing early thanks to her Questar III BOCES experience. She’s been accepted to several colleges so far and has yet to narrow down her choice. She is also exploring the Navy and Air Force.

Watch a video of Ava’s first solo flight: