Seniors Celebrate Completion of FEH BOCES Programs

MALONE – Franklin-Essex-Hamilton BOCES celebrated high school seniors for completing a variety of career-focused programs in a ceremony Monday night.

Seniors from Brushton-Moira, Chateaugay, Malone, Salmon River and St. Regis Falls school districts donned caps and gowns or indigenous ceremonial regalia and officially wrapped up their time in FEH BOCES's Career and Technical Education, New Vision and Torch Academy in Person alternative education programs.

Each senior from 14 FEH BOCES programs was called to the stage and given a certificate to honor their successful program completion. Teachers, principals and school counselors also shook hands and gave plenty of hugs and high fives as students received their honors.

All the programs featured Monday night are based out of North Franklin Educational Center in Malone, though Welding and Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning students gained hands-on experience in satellite classrooms at Salmon River Central School, and students in the three New Vision programs were based at worksites that let them immerse within the world of the field they explored. No matter where the program is housed, they all focus on experience-based learning.

"In the hands-on learning environments you've experienced, you have acquired practical skills and knowledge that go beyond textbooks and lectures," said FEH BOCES District Superintendent Dale Breault Jr. in a speech during the ceremony. "You have learned the value of precision, the importance of teamwork, and the satisfaction of creating something real. These are the qualities that will set you apart in the workforce and that employers are eagerly seeking."

Monday's ceremony was held at Malone Middle School to accommodate the number of people at the event.

The event was streamed live on Facebook and can be viewed there at facebook.com/FEHBOCES.

After the ceremony, a reception was held with refreshments and photo opportunities.

Also on Monday, the other FEH BOCES school, Adirondack Educational Center in Saranac Lake, celebrated its seniors with smaller ceremonies throughout the day.

For more information about FEH BOCES, go to fehb.org or follow along on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn @FEHBOCES.