The Ormsby Educational Center recently hosted its sixth annual Secondary Education and Military and Employment Signing Day, a two-day event recognizing Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES students committing to colleges, the military, or the workforce.
Held June 1–2, the celebration brought together senior Career & Technical Education students, families, and staff to honor students’ next steps after graduation. Ormsby Principal Laura Sokol-Scott welcomed attendees and praised students for their achievements and future plans.
Guest speaker William Barnes of Moog encouraged students to stay flexible and adaptable as they enter evolving industries shaped by automation and technology, emphasizing that career paths are rarely linear and require ongoing learning and strong hands-on skills.
E2CCB District Superintendent Dr. David O’Rourke also commended students and staff, highlighting how Career & Technical Education programs prepare students for success in college, the military, and future careers.
For more photos from the event, click here.
COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY COMMITMENTS
- Alfred State: Kassidy Ditta (Small/Large Animal Science) of Iroquois; Rylie Feldman (Small Animal Science) of Springville-Griffith Institute; Sophia Rudy (Small Animal Science) of Iroquois.
- Buffalo State University: Sophia Page (Sports Conditioning and Exercise Science) of Orchard Park.
- Canisius University: Kyla Fragale (Small/Large Animal Science) of Iroquois.
- Cleveland State University: Cheyenne Elson (Small/Large Animal Science) of Eden; Isabella Smolinski (Sports Conditioning and Exercise Science) of East Aurora.
- Continental School of Beauty: Hailey Hess (Cosmetology) and Elizabeth Meyer (Cosmetology), both of Orchard Park.
- D’Youville University: Nevaeh Bailey (Health Careers II) of Eden; Mia Necovski (Health Careers) of Iroquois.
- Daemen University: Jayden Amer (Sports Conditioning and Exercise Science) of Iroquois; Ella Drew (Health Careers) of Orchard Park.
- Houghton University: Ariana Vanderlip (Conservation/Natural Resource Management) of Iroquois.
- Le Moyne College: Ella Helper (Health Careers) of Iroquois.
- Liberty University: Ava Konopa (Health Careers) of East Aurora.
- Niagara University: Sophia Davis (Health Careers) of Orchard Park.
- Penn State University: Eva Chelus (Health Careers) of Orchard Park.
- PennWest Edinboro: Alexander Schiffhauer (Sports Conditioning and Exercise Science) of Iroquois.
- St. Thomas University: Ethan Martinet (Sports Conditioning and Exercise Science) of Orchard Park.
- SUNY Niagara: Jaelyan Baksa (Health Careers) of Orchard Park; Colin Fisher (Welding/Metal Fabrication) of Iroquois; Mason Morey (Welding/Metal Fabrication) of Springville-Griffith Institute; Tomasz Zolet (Welding/Metal Fabrication) of East Aurora.
- SUNY Brockport: Landon Kostusiak (Sports Conditioning and Exercise Science) of Iroquois; Audrey Smith (Sports Conditioning and Exercise Science) of Orchard Park; Grace Tavernier (Health Careers) of Holland.
- SUNY Delhi: Faith Boron (Small/Large Animal Science) of Iroquois.
- SUNY Erie: Jacob Herbst (Sports Conditioning and Exercise Science) of Orchard Park.
- SUNY Oswego: Megan Wesley (Sports Conditioning and Exercise Science) of Orchard Park.
- Trocaire College: Jamie Bauer (Small/Large Animal Science) of Holland; Emma Kandefer (Health Careers) of East Aurora; Lia Palmeri (Small/Large Animal Science) of Springville-Griffith Institute.
- University at Buffalo: Lauren Patterson (Sports Conditioning and Exercise Science) of Orchard Park.
The guest speaker for the Employment and Military Signing Day was Bernard Bunny, a retired U.S. Navy servicemember.
EMPLOYMENT AND MILITARY COMMITMENTS
- Bangs Salon: Elanna Passucci (Cosmetology) of Iroquois.
- Berner Farms: Dominic Grzybowski (Conservation) of Iroquois.
- Blue Salon and Spa: Gabrielle Echeverria (Cosmetology) of Orchard Park.
- Bradley Tree & Landscaping: Chace Kramer (Conservation) of Holland.
- Erba Verde Farms: Luke Baiocco (Conservation) of Iroquois.
- Textures Salon: Makalya Keem (Cosmetology) of Orchard Park.
- United Dairy Machinery Corporation: John Bergner (Welding/Metal Fabrication) of Springville-Griffith Institute; Justin Niefergold (Welding/Metal Fabrication) of North Collins.
- U.S. Navy: Patrick Budney (Criminal Justice) of Orchard Park; Nathan Fisher (Pre-Engineering & Drafting Design) of East Aurora; John Hackett II (Conservation) of Holland.
