Wilson Tech - What's New

David Barnstone, a 2010 graduate of Wilson Tech’s Audio Production program, is gearing up to break down barriers for people with disabilities. The sophomore at the University of Massachusetts—Amherst will help raise awareness with a simple message of empathy and acceptance on behalf of people with disabilities by cycling 800 miles from Miami to Tallahassee.

“People with disabilities face many challenges everyday that you and I cannot imagine. But one of the most tragic barriers is a lack of understanding by our society,” he said..

As Executive Philanthropy Chair of his fraternity Pi Kappa Phi, shortly after the spring semester he will be off to Miami where he and his fraternity brothers will start their 800 mile journey for Gear Up Florida’s fundraising effort for Push America..

In addition to his philanthropic activities in college, the Half Hollow Hills resident is working this semester as a production intern at New England Public Radio (WFCR) in Amherst, Mass. His primary responsibility is to edit interviews and produce audio spots for the station to air during their fund drives..

“I really owe the opportunity to you as my audio experience at Tech on my resume basically landed the interview for me,” said Barnstone in an email to his Tech instructor, Michael O'Toole. Barnstone is pursing a double major in journalism and a self-designed curriculum in media psychology. His ultimate goal is to work as a multimedia science, technology, and education journalist..

Mark Bender (far, l.) from Habberstad BMS of Bay Shore and Chris Hughes (far r.) of Thriftway Auto Body in Lindenhurst were both recently recognized for contributions to their communities through participation in the Automotive Youth Educational Systems (AYES) Initiative. Both professionals are former graduates of Wilson Tech and now provide education and career opportunities through mentored internships to deserving high school students at Wilson Tech. Mark Bender is pictured with the student he currently mentors, Rony Trujillo, a Northport senior in Tech's Automotive Technology program. Chris Hughes is currently mentoring Matt Buffa, a West Babylon senior in Tech’s Auto Body program. For information about how sophomores and juniors in high school can register for fall 2012 classes at Wilson Tech, call (631) 667-6000 x300.

Two auto manufacturers have donated vehicles to help Wilson Technological Center train future auto technicians. With the assistance of the Greater New York Auto Dealers Association, BMW of N. America, LLC Eastern Region donated a 2008 535xi Sport Wagon and Chrysler Corp. donated a 2005 Chrysler 300. See the students inspecting the cars!

Wilson Tech offers automotive technology at both the Dix Hills and Northport campuses for juniors and seniors in high school. Adults can pursue Tech’s full-time automotive technician training program during the daytime at the Northport campus.

For the ninth year in a row, Wilson Tech students captured top honors in the annual Business Leadership Competition sponsored by the Young Professionals Chamber of Commerce, a program of the Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce.

Michael Conklin (l.) and Deirdra Kearns (r.), both students in Wilson Tech's Advertising/Graphic Design program, captured first place in Graphic Design for their effective advertising package. The Smithtown High School West seniors won top honors for their original concepts for logo, website, apron, napkins, packaging and a rolling vendor's cart to promote the fictional popsicle company that they named Crave Cold. In addition to their creative designs, the duo had to demonstrate the marketability of their concepts in a professional presentation when they “pitched” their original business concepts to a panel of judges selected from local businesses.

Emily Bealey and Karissa Doyle, Fashion Merchandising/Design students from Smithtown West, also won first place in Fashion Marketing while Andrew Ham, Advertising/Graphic Design student from Half Hollow Hills West, won second place in the Job Interview category.

Registration is taking place now for September 2012 enrollment in any of Wilson Tech’s 28 technical and career programs for high school students. Call 667-6000, ext. 300 for more information.

Guidance counselors from the 20 high schools in Western Suffolk BOCES gathered at Wilson Tech for their annual holiday meeting when they visited with students who described their Tech programs. Following this, Tech students in Culinary Arts hosted a buffet brunch during which Tech students from Fashion/Merchandising Design modeled their creative designs in a Fashion Show. Then take a look at all the other activities!

Thanks to the generous donations of students in Wilson Tech's Culinary Arts and Professional programs, many Long Islanders enjoyed a Thanksgiving meal of all the traditional foods. Top group are in Chef Kombert's AM class; middle group are in her PM class; and bottom photo are current and alumni from Ms. Montuori's photography classes.

“The soup kitchen inspired the students to do more volunteer work within their community,” noted Chef Kombert. The students earned community service hours for their home school’s graduation requirement. Take a look at all the festivities.

Wilson Tech students discussed their career options recently with representatives from 20 colleges and post secondary schools at Wilson Tech's annual Education Expo. Take a look!

photo credit: Travis Beck
Smithtown East High School, a senior
in Tech's Professional Photography program

Wilson Tech recently inducted officers of the student organizations SkillsUSA and FFA. After the special evening ceremony, students and guests sampled appetizers made by students in Tech's Culinary Arts program. Watch the festivities!

SkillsUSA, is a national student organization that offers leadership, citizenship and character development programs to complement the skills training that vocational students receive in career and technical programs at Wilson Tech. For more information, call 667-6000 x300.

A.C. Preston, a NYS trooper, discusses career paths within the NYS Police force with Wilson Tech students in Police Science and Law at Tech's Republic Airport campus.


Devonte Lampkins (l.) from Wyandanch and Michael Stubbolo (r.) from Harborfields practice on flight simulators before they can take off!	Landing on the tarmac after first flight of the school year.

Second year students in Wilson Tech's Aviation Flight Science program took their first flight of the new school year on Oct. 26. Jason Washington of North Babylon is at the controls with his instructor next to him and Dean Nelson of Half Hollow Hills East sits in the back passenger seat. The students earn hours toward their private pilot's license in Wilson Tech's program at Republic Airport.

The Aviation Maintenance Technology Program hosted a Career Fair and Open House on Sept. 15 from 9 to 11 am at Wilson Tech's Republic Airport campus for adults interested in preparing to earn FAA licenses. Employers from major Long Island airports including Sheltair, Delta Technical Operations, A&P Aircraft Maintenance, Mach II Aviation, US Airways, New York State Police, Vaughn College, AAR Aircraft Component Services, Federal Aviation Administration, 106th Rescue Wing, Air National Guard, NYC Business Solutions Transportation, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Academy of Aviation, and Jet Blue talked to prospective students about career opportunities for those with FAA licenses. The AMT program at Western Suffolk BOCES is approved by the Federal Aviation Administration. For questions, call 631-752-1957. See more photos about the Career Fair.

Contractors who work on residential buildings with lead-based paint can become certified renovators by taking the required, eight-hour Lead Safety – Repair, Renovation and Painting course, approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, at Wilson Tech’s Dix Hills campus on Oct. 17 and 19.

Home renovators, home inspectors as well as homeowners will learn personal safety precautions to protect themselves from airborne lead dust that can be created during the repair and renovation of older houses. Common renovation activities like sanding, cutting, and demolition can create hazardous lead dust and chips by disturbing lead-based paint, which can be harmful to adults and children. Home inspectors will earn .8 CEUs that count as part of their biennial 24 CEU credit requirements.

Under EPA’s rule in 2010, contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 must be certified and must follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination. Failure to comply can result in fines of $37,500 per occurrence.

The $129 course will run from 6 to 10 p.m. in the Large Conference Room of Building C, 17 Westminster Avenue, Dix Hills, NY11746. Register now at www.wilsontech.org/leadsafety or call 631-667-6000, x320.

Outstanding students from all four campuses of Wilson Tech were recently honored at a dinner ceremony for the students and their families. Culinary Arts students prepared and served a buffet dinner for the guests. See who received recognition!

Students in Tech's Professional Photography program pause in the midst of setting up displays for Wilson Tech's annual Photography Show. Family and friends were enchanted by the range and quality of photographs that students had taken in Tech's studio, around campus, during field trips, and at home. Wilson Tech offers a half day photography program for high school students to prepare for a career in the visual arts.

Seven students from Wilson Tech’s Police Science and Law program were selected to attend the recent Suffolk County Police Department’s Youth Academy where they spent a week learning what new police recruits learn—from running an obstacle course to practicing “search & cuff” tactics to studying police ethics.

Registration is now underway for fall classes for high school students. To register for any of the 29 Tech programs, contact the home high school guidance counselor or call 667-6000, x300.

Twelve competitors from Wilson Tech’s Veterinary Assisting program went upstate to the NYS contests for Small Animal Careers and 12 champions came back!

Three teams, each with four students, competed in the contests of: Veterinary Assisting, Grooming, Pet Shop keeping and Laboratory Animal Science. Each participant had to identify parasites, breeds of dogs and cats and take a general knowledge test. Then each member of the team had to participate in a client communication skill and one specialty area.

The top three teams from among the 94 students in this competition won plaques and the top 10 highest scoring individuals received medals for their excellence in a ceremony on May 6. Team placements and individual medals awarded were:

1^st Place/ Highest scoring individual in NY State: Samantha Newbeck- Lindenhurst HS

Students in Wilson Tech's Equine Studies program earned 21 ribbons including 11 for first place at the annual spring Horse Show. Students from Eastern and Western Suffolk BOCES had to demonstrate skills from beginning walking to advanced jumping. The event was held at the Thomas School of Horsemanship which is the site of the Wilson Tech classroom for this secondary program. Watch the Show! and then Find out who won the ribbons!

Tech’s annual Fashion Show was a show stopper in more than one way! Students modeled more than 100 of their original designs plus staff and children modeled fashions generously donated for the evening by Rogers, Estelle’s and The Children’s Place. Ticket sales and raffles from the evening brought in more than $7,500 for scholarships! Thanks to the very supportive teachers and staff who made this night so special!

Tech students in Culinary Arts recently helped the Morgan Center raise money for preschool children with leukemia. These Tech volunteers cooked along side professional chefs and then served the food at the Southward Ho Country Club.

“When I am at Tech,” scholarship recipient Amanda Corcoran said, “I have the opportunity to work hands-on in a field I know and love, while learning something new and amazing every day.”

Amanda Corcoran (c.) of South Huntington, a senior in Wilson Tech’s cosmetology program, receives congratulations from her parents Anita and Brian Corcoran after she received a $500 scholarship from Suffolk Region PTA at the recent PTA Night at Western Suffolk BOCES. In September Amanda will continue her education at Iona College in New Rochelle, NY. Take a look at the festivities at PTA Night 2011! Registration is now open for fall 2011 classes at Wilson Tech. For more information about any of Tech’s 29 programs for high school students, contact your high school guidance counselor or call 667-6000, ext. 300.

Western Suffolk BOCES has been re-approved by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) to offer IACET Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for all classes in its adult education programs at Wilson Technological Center. Adults can learn new skills for entering the workforce, changing careers, advancing on the job, or developing a hobby in more than 300 classes that Wilson Tech offers.

To achieve this prestigious status as an Authorized Provider, BOCES completed a rigorous application process, including a review by an IACET site visitor, and successfully demonstrated adherence to the ANSI/IACET 1-2007 Standard addressing the design, development, administration, and evaluation of its programs.

“Wilson Tech is proud of our adult education programs which train more than 8,000 each year in skills ranging from automotive and cosmetology to computer networking and videography so that Long Islanders stay on the cutting edge,” said Dr. Michael Mensch, Chief Operating Officer of Western Suffolk BOCES. “Our ongoing partnership with IACET is a demonstration of our commitment to lifelong learning and high standards for all of our programs, and we are very pleased to join an elite group of organizations that offer excellent continuing education and training programs.”

Western Suffolk BOCES joins nearly 650 organizations around the globe that have had their programs vetted by third-party experts in continuing education to ensure the highest possible standards are met. IACET, a non-profit association dedicated to quality continuing education and training programs, is the only standard-setting organization approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for continuing education and training.

Wilson Tech students captured 26 medals during the SkillsUSA Regional competition in March. In the 29 competitions, Tech had 7 first place winners, 11 second place winners and 8 third place winners. Tech students took first and second in both Small Animal Careers and TV & Video Production, and both second and third in Welding. Click here to see the competition and awards ceremony! Click here to see who won!

SkillsUSA is a national student organization that offers leadership, citizenship and character development programs to complement the skills training that vocational students receive in career and technical programs at Wilson Tech. The competition required students to demonstrate the skills they had learned in their Tech programs. First place winners will compete at the NYS contests in April.

Registration is now underway for the 28 programs Tech offers for high school students for fall 2011. For more information, contact the home school guidance counselor or call 667-6000 x300.

For the fifth time in the past six years, two students from Wilson Technological Center’s automotive technology program won first place in the regional skills competition sponsored by the Greater New York Auto Dealers’ Association at Suffolk County Community College. Top winners Mike Zullo (l.) and Mansour Wahidi (r.), both from South Huntington, won $24,500 in scholarships. Another Tech team took sixth place: Michael Konsevitch of Copiague and Kevin Patricola of West Babylon.

The students had 1½ hours to troubleshoot and then repair problems that could have been anything from inadequate tire pressure to an electrical malfunction in a 2011 Toyota Camry. The teams will continue practicing their troubleshooting skills with their Tech teachers at a local Mazda dealership in preparation for the New York State competition that will be held at the GNYADA Training Center in Whitestone on Feb. 15 when the teams will compete for more scholarships and equipment.

Wilson Tech is the career and technical education division of Western Suffolk BOCES. High school students can register now for fall classes in 28 programs.

Students in the building trades and automotive programs at Wilson Technological Center met with members of the Long Island Contractors' Association (LICA) recently to learn about careers in heavy construction.

Lori Battell of West Islip, an adult student in Western Suffolk BOCES’ School of Diagnostic Medical Sonography, was one of eight in the U.S. to be awarded a scholarship from the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers. Lori will use her $500 award for her tuition in the program. She hopes to complete the BOCES program in June 2010and then work in a hospital.

Among the five specialty areas available in Tech's 24-month program, Tech students can pursue echocardiography (the sonography of structures of the heart), general, breast, obstetrics and vascular sonography. Each specialty area requires graduates to pass a different registry exam.

Lori selected the BOCES program at Wilson Tech’s Northport campus because of its affordable tuition and the emphasis on supervised clinical experience in hospitals and doctor's offices from Manhattan to Southampton. Students gain valuable hands-on experience in several three-month clinical rotations.

Interested adults should begin preparations now for the next class which begins July 2011. The program is fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. Financial aid is available to those who qualify. For more details about the program, admission requirements and tuition, go to www.wsboces.org/fulltime, or call 631-261-3721 ext. 219.

SAT Review Classes FREE!
Get ready to take the SAT with confidence! Wilson Tech offers two-hour workshops on the Wednesday before the SAT test to review basic test-taking strategies. These workshops are offered FREE to all high school students. Workshops are held at Tech's Dix Hills campus from 4 to 6 p.m. Students must provide their own transportation. To learn exact dates, find a map to Wilson Tech, or to register, go to www.wilsontech.org/SATreview.

The Surgical Technonology program at Wilson Technological Center was just ranked in the top 10% of surgical technology programs in the United States. The program received a national merit award from the Liaison Council on Certification for Surgical Technologist because all of the 2003 graduates who attempted the national certification exam, passed and achieved the status of Certified Surgical Technologist.

“This 100 % pass rate is due to the excellent instructors and to our diligent students. We are extremely proud of everyone.” noted Joseph Myers, Executive Director of Career and Technical Education at Wilson Technological Center, a division of Western Suffolk BOCES.

Kathi Baker, program administrator, added that the demand is very strong for Surg Techs. Everyone in last year’s class is working in health care, she said.

Tech’s 10-month program prepares students for employment in the operating room, surgical office, delivery room, emergency departments, physician and dentist offices, central supply services, cardiac catheterization clinics, tissue banks and ambulatory surgical care sites. Financial aid, loans, grants and payment plans are available to qualified applicants.

Applications are now being accepted for September classes in Surgical Technology. There are no specific academic prerequisites for admission into the program, however, students must pass the Test of Basic Adult Education (TABE) and a pre-entrance exam. For more information about the program or for an application for the pre-entrance exam, call (631) 261-3727. Additional information about the program and financial aid is also available at www.wilsontech.org.

Amy-Lyn Dacchille of Selden (l.) and Jennifer Bragg of E. Northport (r.) prepare for an emergency room procedure as part of the Surgical Technology program at Wilson Technological Center. Wilson Technological Center, the career and technical division of Western Suffolk BOCES, provides financial aid, loans, grants and payment plans to qualified students. For more information about the required pre-entrance exam or enrolling in the 10-month Surg Tech program for September, call (631) 261-3727 or go to www.wilsontech.org.