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Brian Katz (l.), manager of Jiffy Lube on Jericho Tpk. in Huntington, guides Nick Saporito (r.), a Commack senior in Wilson Tech’s Auto Technology program, during a job shadow experience as part of the Automotive Youth Educational Systems (AYES) initiative. The goal is for qualified high school students to observe experienced technicians in a working shop as the students are evaluated for mentored summer employment.
“Mr. Katz represents the first of what Wilson Tech hopes will be many local businesses in the automotive aftermarket joining with the local auto dealerships who have long offered job shadow experiences to Tech students, the future automotive workforce of Long Island,” said Courtney Hughes, Tech’s work-study coordinator.
This spring Habberstad BMW of Bay Shore, Atlantic Toyota, Huntington Honda, Competition BMW, Acura of Huntington, and Newins Ford of Bay Shore have given auto technology students job shadowing opportunities while Bi County Auto Body, Top Gun Collision, and Hassel Auto Body have provided job shadowing opportunities for auto body students.
Four Wilson Tech students won top honors at the NYS Skills USA Conference and Competition in Syracuse in April. Special kudos go to Jared Schaffer of Elwood (pictured above), the first place NYS winner for Related Technical Math—it was his second time on the NYS podium to collect the blue ribbon and he will again represent Tech and NYS at the national contest in Kansas City in June! Other Wilson Tech winners:
William Scherer of Northport won second place for Automotive Service
Melissa Solano of Copiague won third place for Commercial Baking
Sarah Cadet won third place for Preschool Teaching Assistant
Take a look at the photos from the NYS competition taken by Phyllis Montouri, Tech’s photography instructor, and photography students Jake Barbal and David Emiliani.
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. Registration is now underway for the 38 programs Tech offers for high school students. For more information, contact the home school guidance counselor or call 667-6000 x300.
After taking second place in the first Veterinary Science competition at the statewide FAA contest in May, Wilson Tech’s team qualified to compete at the national FFA convention in Indianapolis, Indiana. Overall, Tech’s Veterinary Assistant students received six of the 10 top medals!
Members of the team, all students in Tech’s Veterinary Assistant program, include Ashley Downing of Smithtown East; Heather Janiesch of Smithtown West; Suzanne McDaniel of Kings Park; and Mike Bill of Lindenhurst. Individual winners included:
2nd Jillian Alaggio-Babylon HS
3rd Alyssa Riewerts- Lindenhurst HS
5th Christian Feete- John Glenn HS
6th Heather Janiesch- Smithtown-West HS
7th Suzanne McDaniel- Kings Park HS
8th Michael Bill- Lindenhurst HS
All contestants (124 participants on 27 teams) identified dog, cat, farm animal livestock, exotic breeds, and animal parasites. All contestants also had to take an objective test in veterinary science knowledge and principles.
Then, each contestant had to participate in a communication skill and a specialty area that was randomly assigned the day of the competition in the areas of Veterinary Clinical Procedures, Vaccination and Preventative Medicine, Livestock Husbandry and Grooming.
FAA is a national leadership organization dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.
Paige Burke of Northport captured first place at the 2012 High School Student Culinary Arts Competition at SCCC and received a $1,500 scholarship to study baking and pastry there this fall.
 
Fashionistas, pay attention to the stylish Tech students on the runway! Wilson Tech's Fashion Merchandising/Design students held their annual Fashion Show recently when students modeled the fashions they had designed and constructed. Take a look!
For more information about registering for the program for fall 2012, high school sophomores and juniors should contact their home high school guidance counselor or call 631-667-6000, ext. 300.
Gustavo Ortega’s welding skills have not gone unnoticed! While the Copiague senior is on work-study at EB Industries in Farmingdale two days a week, he used his classroom time at Wilson Tech to hone his welding skills. And, his work paid off! He captured first place this month at the regional SkillsUSA competition!
He joins a long list of Tech welding students who for six of the past seven years have taken first and second place in that competition and then went on to represent Wilson Tech at the NYS contest.
Second place this year went to Ruel Wills, also from Copiague.
According to Tech’s Job Placement Office, EB Industries is training the next generation for its workforce. Specifically, the company wants to bring electron beam and laser technology as a career field into the spotlight nationally and locally.
The partnership with Wilson Tech's Welding program seeks top performing second-year welding students who can supplement their classroom instruction with on-the-job training.
“Wilson Tech's faculty and administration are very excited about this partnership as the company’s facility offers students access to state-of-the-art equipment not readily available on campus,” said Courtney Hughes of Tech’s Job Placement Office.
According to EB Industries, electron beam or laser welding training is not currently available through any educational institution in the Northeast. The work-study program is part of the company’s plans to address this lack of professional standardized training.
In addition to working directly with students, EB Industries has joined Wilson Tech's Career and Technical Education Advisory Board representing local industry.
For information about how sophomores and juniors in high school can register for fall 2012 classes at Wilson Tech, call (631) 667-6000 x300 or visit your high school guidance counselor.
Wilson Tech students won 21 individual medals and four team medals in March at the regional competition for SkillsUSA. Tech's Quiz Bowl Team with students from four different programs garnered first place. Tech also swept first and second individual honors in welding, aviation science/flight, culinary arts and veterinary assisting contests. Find out who won which medals here! Take a look at the competition and awards ceremony.
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. Registration is now underway for fall 2012 classes for the 38 programs that Tech offers for high school students. For more information, contact the home school guidance counselor or call 667-6000 x300.
Clare O’Connell (c.) of Elwood, a senior in Wilson Tech’s Aviation/Flight Science program, received a $500 PTA scholarship from Suffolk PTA Region Director Jacqueline Wilson (l.) at the recent PTA Night at Western Suffolk BOCES, hosted by Dr. Michael Mensch (l.), BOCES Chief Operating Officer. In September Clare will continue her education at San Francisco State University. “The vital attributes and life skills I’ve gained through BOCES shall forever promote my success,” she said. Registration is now open for fall 2012 classes at Wilson Tech. For more information about any of Tech’s 28 programs for high school students, contact your high school guidance counselor or call 667-6000, ext. 300.
Board members had a very special tour of the Audio Production classroom and recording studio at Wilson Tech as Dr. Michael Mensch (on drums) jammed with alumni of the Graphic & Media cluster during the February Board meeting. Instructor Michael O'Toole (standing, center) explained to the Board that juniors and seniors in high school can explore their interests in music as they record their own voices in a sound booth or learn to spin tunes on a DJ board. Students can also record their music using a variety of electronic instruments and Apple MacIntosh computers.
Jonathan Mackey (l.) described his internship as an assistant engineer at a local recording studio and Jared Besemer (r.) described how he records his own music in the studio he built in his home.
Tech's rigorous program has agreements with several colleges so students can earn up to 9 credits toward college while they are still in high school. For more information about registering for any of the 28 programs for high school students, call 631-667-6000 x300 or visit your guidance counselor in your home high school.
Frank Carrieri, a senior from Lindenhurst, was named “Student of the Year” from the American Culinary Federation of Long Island. At the professional organization’s recent annual dinner, he received a $1,000 scholarship from Gottham Hospitality. Also that night, Frank and his classmates Kelly Davila and Hannah Homler, both from Commack, won 2nd place for their performance in the “Ready, Set, Cook Competition.” The three students in Tech’s Culinary Arts program received medals and scholarships towards Monroe College.
While the countdown for the Oscars is underway, Michael McSweeney, an aspiring filmmaker who graduated from Wilson Tech’s Video Production program in 2008, is also in a countdown to secure funding for his first feature film.
With an outline of the story he wanted to tell, Michael and two friends set out on a cross country odyssey last summer. He captured scenes of America far beyond his imagination, he said. Excited with his dramatic footage of the country’s natural beauty and the plainspoken honesty of Americans, he returned to New York and landed with his camera in the middle of the Occupy Wall Street protests.
The Smithtown East grad recently launched a Kickstarter campaign to help raise the funds needed to complete his film, Ashes of America. "It's off to a good start so far, but I still have a long way to go in the next two weeks and need your help!” Michael wrote to his Tech instructor, Michael O’Toole.
To secure funding through Kickstarter, the Tech grad must raise the money within a specific time period and promise his contributors a reward based on the level of their support. If the time period concludes before Michael has reached his goal, all contributions revert to the donor.
“Anything helps to show your support for the project, and please help spread the word!” added this talented Tech grad. “You can check it out here http://kck.st/ashes-of-america. I've added several new reward categories such as printed photos and put together a new trailer http://vimeo.com/36166103 to the film.”
Michael currently studies at the School of Visual Arts in NYC. His previous work includes a short documentary called “Sound Underground.”
His Tech teacher is convinced that Michael’s talent as a video editor will lead him to become a big name in the industry!
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.
To help him meet his own personal fundraising goal as he reaches out to thousands of people with disabilities along his route and strives to spread the message of acceptance and understanding, go to http://support.pushamerica.org/site/TR?px=1043577&fr_id=1110&pg=personal. You can read more about his activities on campus at http://dailycollegian.com/2011/12/06/pi-kappa-phi-cycles-in-campus-center/
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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 more information, call 631-667-6000, x300 about the high school program or 631-667-6000, x320 about the adult program.
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!
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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!
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photo credit: Travis Beck
Smithtown East High School, a senior
in Tech's Professional Photography program
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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.
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Devonte Lampkins (l.) from Wyandanch and Michael Stubbolo (r.) from Harborfields practice on flight simulators before they can take off!
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Landing on the tarmac after first flight of the school year.
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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.
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.
Cosmetology students from Wilson Technological Center won 19 of the 30 trophies at the annual May Hairstyling Competition sponsored by the LI Cosmetology Teachers' Guild. Students from all over Long Island competed in five categories: senior styling, junior styling, color, mannequin styling and fantasy. Take a look at the first album of beautiful hair styles the students created. And then see the second album! See who won the trophies.
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!
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.
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.
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.
©2012 Western Suffolk BOCES
17 Westminster Ave., Dix Hills, NY 11746
(631) 667-6000, ext. 300 webmaster@wsboces.org
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