During four separate Senior Recognition Day ceremonies on June 10, Career & Technical Education programs at all four Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES centers honored hundreds of graduating seniors who completed their requirements in 21 different areas of study under the direction of Jaime Venning, Director of Career & Technical Education.

Early in the day, at an outdoor event held next to the Ormsby Center presided over by Ormsby Principal Tom Hueber, faculty, staff and administrators joined hundreds of family members and friends to honor 196 graduating seniors for their achievement.

At another event held inside the Lake Shore High School auditorium presided over by CTE Supervisor Jeff Cervoni, more than 200 guests were on hand as 75 graduating seniors from the Lake Shore/Carrier Career & Technical Academy took to the stage to accept certificates of completion from their instructors.

Later that evening, a recognition ceremony presided over by LoGuidice Principal Jose Pagan at the SUNY Fredonia Williams Center drew hundreds more as 149 students were recognized for their success.

Finally, 199 students at the Hewes Center took to the stage at the Chautauqua Lake High School auditorium in front of a packed house during a recognition ceremony presided over by Hewes Principal Kip Feinen.

All told, more than 600 graduating seniors were recognized for completing their studies, and Mr. Pagan’s remarks at  the LoGuidice ceremony truly summed up the feelings of all CTE faculty, staff and administrators:

“These young ladies and gentlemen in front of us became lifelong learners and will continue to move forward, no matter what obstacles they stumble across. We are so proud of the success they have made with the opportunities offered to them. Congratulations! We are extremely proud of you.”

Student speakers were a common addition to the Senior Recognition Day ceremonies, and the Lake Shore/Carrier ceremony even featured a special guest speaker: Thomas Moses Sr., Mayor of Hamburg.

For two years, the students spent half their school day attending classes at one of the four E2CCB centers or other sites that host E2CCB CTE programs. In addition to receiving a formal background in the specialized fields of their choosing, students who have successfully completed the requirements of their programs and meet the necessary requirements will receive a technical endorsement on their diploma. Many will begin their careers immediately after graduating with the skills and experience they gained as E2CCB students and many more will go on to more advanced levels of study at post-secondary education programs.

During each of the ceremonies, numerous students were presented with awards or received special recognition for going above and beyond their academic requirements. And collectively, the graduates received hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships.

Hewes Center Jeff Cervoni, left, and Hamburg Mayor Tom Moses Sr.