Nearly 400 second-year Career & Technical Institute students are ready for whatever life has to offer them following the annual Recognition Night held at the Majed J. Nesheiwat Convention Center in Poughkeepsie on June 11.
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Following a rousing rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner” by Cosmetology students Neveah Pittman and Annalise Perez, CTI Principal Jason Lloyd said that he wanted to see for himself what happens in CTI classrooms during his first year and it exceeded his expectations. He noted that while many high schoolers were learning about future careers, CTI students were living them and developing skills that potential employers value.
“I found young professionals designing, building, troubleshooting, creating, repairing, caring, leading and learning … Most importantly, I found young adults who are determined to make a difference in their communities,” Lloyd said. “Whatever path it is that you choose, know that the skills, habits and experiences that you have gained here have prepared you well for what comes next.”
Salutatorian Erik Berg, an HVAC student, noted that he not only learned the technical skills needed for his career path, but also valuable life lessons such as being responsible, confident and working as part of a team. He added that success in school is more than just grades and test scores. “Success is about growth, it’s about showing up when things get difficult, it’s about learning from mistakes and continuing to move forward,” Berg said. “It [the HVAC class] taught me that every challenge has a solution if you are willing to put in the effort to find it.”
Valedictorian Macklin Boyd said that attending the HVAC program made a huge impact in his life where he learned skills that made him more knowledgeable at his job at Ackerman Mechanical in Red Hook, as well as successfully tackling challenges that have prepared him and his classmates for life beyond CTI. “I encourage everyone to remember the lessons we’ve learned here – keep working hard, stay determined and never stop learning,” Boyd said. “I wish you all success, happiness and fulfillment on whatever path you choose.”
Sisters MoNahjae Dickens and Jurnee Smith are always together, so naturally they enrolled in the Cosmetology program where they had a blast doing what they enjoy. While Smith is pursuing a career as an ultrasound technician, she said she will continue to utilize what she learned in class on the side.
“I think cosmetology is always going to be good because I can always help somebody fix their hair,” Smith said.
Dickens said she will miss Teacher Wendy Wabshinak and her classmates, but is excited to study cosmetology at North Carolina Central University where she will put the skills she learned in class to good use.
“They made me more efficient at what I do,” Dickens said of the skills. “It feels good to know that I’m about to have a restart on life and it’s a new beginning.”
