Each year, Southern Westchester BOCES students serve as ambassadors for our programs and, joined by educators and administrators, take part in Advocacy Day, meeting with New York State legislators and sharing their stories of success. The goal is to ensure that our state representatives have the opportunity to understand the depth, breadth and scope of services provided by Southern Westchester BOCES, learning firsthand from our students why these programs are so valuable and worthy of their support. This year, for the first time since the pandemic began, that effort will take place in person.
We've captured the BOCES stories of some of our exemplary students and share them here.
Ariel Novominski and John Cross, Career and Technical Education
As more and more people recognize the value and diversity of Career and Technical Education programs, Southern Westchester BOCES students continue to exemplify all the ways that students can achieve and excel as they prepare for the world of work.
Ariel Novominski and John Cross are excellent examples. Ariel is an Edgemont High School senior who is studying Engineering at SWBOCES. John is learning the ins and outs of TV/Video Production in our state-of-the-art studio. Both arrived on the Career Services campus in Valhalla looking to set themselves apart academically and professionally.
For her part, Ariel chose SWBOCES in favor of an extra Advanced Placement elective, a decision some of her friends questioned. She admits she saw their point but ultimately decided there was no reason to limit herself or miss the chance to explore a career path before graduation.
“Many of my friends dismissed it because they felt that they could take an extra AP class here or there and that that could further their education,” she said, “but now I realize that I can do both.”
John chose SWBOCES because he wanted to get something extra out of his high school experience. He’s looking to go straight to work after graduation and decided the CTE program would give him the best shot.
“BOCES has prepared me substantially to go toward that goal,” he said.
“BOCES gives you a realistic take on whatever industry that you’re interested in,” he added. “It definitely gives you a very in-depth look at whatever you think it is.”
Ariel agrees. She considered medicine, business and engineering before arriving at SWBOCES, and her studies here have helped her narrow down her choices.
“BOCES allows you to experience all of these things while you’re still in high school. There’s no reason why you have to spend four years in college studying something that may not turn out to be your passion,” she said. “It gives you a step up into the workforce and into seeing whether your goal really is your goal.”
Center for Special Services at Irvington High School
For Samantha Perkaj, Southern Westchester BOCES’ Special Services programs at Irvington High School allowed her to focus on school. Samantha arrived there from Yonkers, “and when I met the people here it just clicked and I’ve been here ever since.”
At Irvington, she has felt like she could go to school and only worry about school without outside concerns interfering. “It felt like a very safe environment here for me,” she said. In fact, she met her best friend on her first day there, and the two remain close.
She also takes Career and Technical Education classes for a portion of the day at SWBOCES’ Career Services campus in Valhalla. She looks forward to studying abroad and one day becoming an ultrasound technician.
Samantha feels strongly that BOCES programs are deserving of support because they make a difference for kids.
“They provide kids like me who went though some traumatic experiences a safe place where they can grow and flourish, and gives them so many opportunities to do things they want to do for the future and for the rest of their lives,” she said.
Andrew Murphy, who also takes Career Tech classes in Valhalla, is eager to put the construction trade skills he is learning to use after high school. He appreciates the job and career planning assistance he gets here. He has attended classes at the Irvington High School location for four years.
“If you really want to do something then this is a really good place,” Andrew said. “They’re forming you. They’re kind of sculpting you.”
Jordan Baldwin has come to Irvington High School from Mount Vernon since elementary school.
The classes are good, and the teachers are really nice, he said. He feels like he’s being prepared well for the future, which could include a career in the trades or even architecture.
“I believe they have a good way of helping people get a better future with the programs they provide,” Jordan said.
David Nunez of Yonkers has come here since graduating from middle school and said it has been a great place to find your purpose.
“If you’re dreaming about something you want to do in the future and you really put your heart into it, it’s eventually going to come true,” said David.
For him that dream starts with construction and plumbing right now, but he wants to study computer science, sound production and computer engineering. He credits BOCES for the progress he has made in high school.
“I’ve felt very happy for the past four years that I’ve been in high school,” he said. “Never once did I just want to leave, because I felt like I belonged.”
Andrew Stein started coming to Irvington High School this school year and is excited about how well he is doing. He believes SWBOCES has helped him to focus on his goals and think about his future.
“I'd like to make a difference, and one of the ways I feel I can make a difference is by going into law,” Andrew said. “I have an ambition to help people in any way that I can. I think that going into politics could help.”
“I’ve only been here a short time,” he added, “but BOCES has helped me a lot.”
Learn more about the impact that New York's 37 BOCES make at BOCES By The Numbers.