This is the first in a series of articles profiling Dutchess BOCES Career and Technical Institute students who are involved in the work-based learning program at the school. In this article, we profile two graduates who were successful in landing jobs at Ruge's Chevrolet, where they both gained work-based learning hours.
Noah Scott
After a successful time as Ruge’s Auto Group’s first work-based learning intern, Noah Scott was hired as a full-time technician.
“BOCES taught me the fundamentals and now at Ruge’s I’m learning the future of the automotive industry,” Scott shared.
After almost two years of working at Ruge’s Chevrolet, Scott reflected on his time in the work-based learning program.
“I enjoyed coming here and learning something new each day,” he said.
Service Manager Joanne Holmes shared, “We needed someone that knew basic maintenance, so it really helped us and it helped Noah.” She added, “I paired him up with one of our senior technicians who's a BOCES alumni.” Scott shared he was interested to see what his mentor was working on each day and then try it himself.
The experience helped Scott solidify his decision to enter the automotive industry.
“The more complicated things are, the more satisfying it is for me to work on,” he shared. As an intern, Scott was fascinated by how computers are integrated into so many aspects of modern cars. “This opened my eyes to see that there's so much more to it than what I originally thought.” He also enjoyed seeing how many trades can be learned through auto work, including welding, electrical, computer programming and more.
As a full-time employee, Scott has “finished his technician apprentice training through General Motors and now he'll start taking more difficult classes,” shared Holmes. “It's nice to see how much Noah has grown since he's come here.” Holmes added that Scott also has his New York State inspector's license.
“Every day there’s something new, and if I don’t know how to do it, there’s someone that can walk me through it. All the training helps me know the vehicles better and know how to diagnose them easier,” he said.
Scarlett Stoner
At the end of the 2023-2024 school year, Holmes was at BOCES for a meeting and while she was in the classroom, she noticed senior Scarlett Stoner’s leadership skills.
“It was the end of class and they were working on an oil change. She was making sure everything was done right. It was really impressive and it caught my ear. I was watching her and she was so into it and the other students were following her lead,” Holmes said.
Holmes approached Scarlett, gave her contact information, and the rest is history. “I felt like she could really benefit and grow with our company. I’m very excited for her,” Holmes added.
From Stoner’s perspective, she was just doing what she needed to get the job done right.
Looking back at her time at BOCES, she shared, “I learned a lot more than I thought I would.” One of her favorite experiences was working on a vehicle’s exhaust.
Now working full-time at Ruge’s Chevrolet, Stoner says, “If it weren’t for BOCES, I wouldn't know how to change oil, how to do the brakes, or lift up a car properly,” all things she does on a regular basis now.
Starting at BOCES, Stoner admits she was an introvert, but through communicating with customers, classmates and industry partners, as well as through teaching students in the Pegasus program, she began to come out of her shell. Recently, she even spoke about her experiences to guidance counselors from across the county at the Dutchess BOCES Conference Center.
Giving advice to current students, Stoner says, “Not everyone has the opportunity to attend BOCES, so make sure that you make the most of your experience and work hard.”