Myah Benjamin has made a habit of standing out at WNY P-TECH STEM College & Career Academy. In addition to excelling in the Mechanical Technology pathway, she’s a 2024 inductee into the school’s chapter of the National Honor Society and a frequent competitor at the STEM Wars competition in the spring.
Benjamin is standing out in other ways as well. The Dunkirk native recently caught the attention of Dr. Betty A. Rosa, New York State Education commissioner, during her stop at WNY P-TECH, one leg of a four-part tour that included stops to Lake Shore CSD, the Carrier Educational Center, and Jamestown Public Schools.
Rosa admitted it was Benjamin and her sparkling silver and pink sequined jacket that she noticed first when arriving at the school. Soon afterward, it was listening to Benjamin discuss the program and the positive impact it’s had on her life that Rosa said she found most striking.
“You just listen to her passion about everything. It really comes through,” the state Education commissioner said during a roundtable discussion with WNY P-TECH and Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES administration officials.
Shortly before touring the Dunkirk facility, Rosa heard from current and former WNY P-TECH students.
The group heard from Whitney Hice, a 2021 alumna and current employee of eSolutions Furniture (Bush Industries), who credits the program for setting her up with a successful career at Bush Industries. She recalled first learning of P-TECH, which stands for Pathways in Technology Early College High School, as a seventh-grade student in Dunkirk and the decision to apply the following year.
“I know the idea of getting an associate’s degree appealed to a lot of students in my grade,” said Hice, who recounted being among the first students to get the new program off the ground through classes held at the LoGuidice Educational Center.
“There were six teachers, and that was the start of WNY P-TECH,” she said. “It was just a different feeling being there. The teachers were much more hands-on with the students’ learning. They truly cared about any student entering the program and always wanted to be there to support them.”
During her second year at WNY P-TECH, the program moved to its current location at 55 E. Benton St. in Dunkirk. She eventually chose to pursue the Mechanical Technology pathway with a concentration in Computer-Aided Design.
Rosa asked Hice what sold her on applying back when she was still in middle school. Hice responded that she loved the idea of being able to work with her hands in a specialized educational setting.
“That’s music to my ears,” Rosa said.
Benjamin said she first learned about P-TECH from her brother, Noah.
“I kind of thought that it was pretty cool, but I wasn’t really sure,” she said of following in her sibling’s footsteps. “Then I took a tour of the place and realized the atmosphere here was so nice and that everyone was great to me.”
Like Hice, Benjamin chose to pursue the Computer-Aided Design pathway. Meanwhile, Noah Benjamin recently advanced to Jamestown Community College to complete his associate degree in Welding Technology.
Also to speak was Tyrick Nadi, who told the commissioner he wanted a different kind of high school experience, one that got him out of the traditional classroom. While in eighth grade, he shadowed a WNY P-TECH student and decided soon after to apply.
“I immediately knew that this is where I needed to be,” said Nadi, who is currently in the Welding Technology pathway. “I spend a large portion of the day in the (welding) shop with hands-on work. I’ve always liked working with my hands; I’ve always been very good at that.”
Rosa focused on the point that Nadi had a chance to shadow a student while still in middle school. WNY P-TECH Principal Jeffrey Teluk said they encourage all applicants to visit the school for a full day to get a feel for each pathway.
“So that was a defining moment for you when you shadowed the student that day?” Rosa asked Nadi, to which he responded yes.
Leo Fial, Director of P-TECH, CTE & Program Innovation, said incoming students are offered an opportunity to meet and interact with current students shortly before school starts through a weeklong Summer Bridge program.
“It helps them get acclimated to the transition they’re making into a new setting,” Fial said.
After the roundtable discussion, Rosa toured the facility and met briefly with students and staff.
The WNY P-TECH STEM College & Career Academy offers a project-based, differentiated learning structure with specialized educators working in tandem with higher education, business partners and public school districts.
Students work to earn NYS Regents Diplomas and A.A.S. Degrees in Welding Technology, Mechatronics, or Mechanical Technology, with specializations in CAD or Machine Tool, from Jamestown Community College.
