WNY P-TECH in Dunkirk recently held its Pathway Selection Ceremony, in which first-year students at Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES officially declared the direction they will focus their studies on for the foreseeable future.
In total, 21 freshmen participated this year.
Principal Jeffrey Teluk said students, by the end of their first year at WNY P-TECH, are asked to declare a pathway they intend to follow through to graduation. “It’s a goal, something to look toward and something you can achieve to get to,” he said of the pathway selection process.
Available pathways include Welding Technology, Mechatronics, and Mechanical Technology with concentrations in Computer-Aided Design and Machine Tooling.
“Since you experienced a little bit of all four pathways, we ask you to declare what you intend to do,” Teluk said.
The ceremony included two guest speakers from SUNY Jamestown Community College: Joseph Spess, instructor of mechanical technology, and Brent Harkness, associate professor of welding.
Spess explained “mechatronics” and how the term originated.
“A long time ago, there used to be mechanical maintenance people and there used to be electrical maintenance people. That was back when machines were all manual,” he said. “Now, with all of the automation and CNC equipment, the term mechatronics was born because there really isn’t that much mechanical and electrical. Everything is tied together with automation.”
Spess said workers with knowledge in mechatronics are highly sought after because many companies are losing skilled employees to retirement.
“The industry really needs some young people to get interested in this to take over the reins from the older generation,” he said.
Harkness said there is no shortage of job opportunities for students who choose the Welding Technology pathway. Careers can include building ships, bridges, and buildings, as well as concentrating on manufacturing, engineering, and infrastructure.
He said students who wish to continue their education can obtain a bachelor’s degree in welding engineering technology.
“There are lots of places to go, and you can go as far as a Ph. D. in this field,” Harkness said.
Students entering the Computer-Aided Design pathway at WNY P-TECH include Jaymeson Bialaszewski of Fredonia, Xavier Brannon of Jamestown, Mia Muniz of Dunkirk, and Ayala Swanson of Dunkirk.
Braxton McCready of Jamestown is entering the Machine Tool pathway.
Students entering the Mechatronics pathway include Cam’ron Brown of Dunkirk, Audiyanna Cheverez of Dunkirk, Shaun DeYoung of Silver Creek, Luis Gautier Delgado of Dunkirk, and Jasiel Rosario of Dunkirk.
Students entering the Welding Technology pathway include Tristen Brandow of Jamestown, Marcus Crane of Dunkirk, Wyatt Dabney of Silver Creek, Wilfred Francisco Felipe of Dunkirk, Kaden Helman of Pine Valley, Chance Kramer of Dunkirk, Nazir Moreland of Fredonia, Alexander Palmer-Bies of Fredonia, Jace Parks of Lakeshore, Cayden Schuster of Dunkirk, and Mychal Williams of Gowanda.
For more information on P-TECH at E2CCB, visit www.e2ccb.org/programs/p-tech/
