BOCES Students: Labor Partnership Creates Wall of Knowledge

Dominick Catalano and Adam Miller work on the wall during the activity.

SCHOHARIE/ALBANY – Capital Region BOCES students say a partnership between BOCES, the Upstate Masonry Institute (UMI) and the Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers (BAC) Local 2 Union is giving them a solid foundation on which to build a successful professional future.

Building Trades students on the Albany and Schoharie Career and Technical Education Center campuses recently completed one-week exposure initiatives with UMI and BAC, during which they learned the fundamentals of masonry.

“There is a huge need in the (construction) industry right now. There are great opportunities for young people with masonry skills,” said Daren Gulliver, Training Director for the BAC.

The February training sessions were part of the month-long BOCES celebration of Career and Technical Education Month, which is a time when school districts across the country celebrate programs designed to prepare students for the workforce or to further their education. Throughout February, Capital Region BOCES spotlighted its partnerships, as well as current students and alumni that make it special.

Students enjoyed the training.

“It’s good for people to learn a variety of skills like masonry if you are going into construction,” said Adam Miller, who attends BOCES from Middleburgh.

Students Abigail MacGregor and Jacob Valverde said they could see themselves pursuing jobs in the industry.

“It’s a pretty good experience and it’s a skill I could use. My uncle has a business fixing up houses and I could do this kind of work for him,” said MacGregor, who is also a Mohonasen student.

“I actually like this a lot,” Valverde, a Scotia-Glenville student said while laying a level of bricks. “I probably want to do it for a career. It’s fun and easy.”

Amanda Bedian, Director of Business Development & Marketing at UMI, said the masonry exposure initiative introduces students to the Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers’ trade while taking a hands-on approach to learning the fundamentals of masonry with brick and block.

“The purpose of our exposure initiative is to educate the construction tech students in masonry while informing them as individuals,” Bedian said.

That message resonated with Shaker High School senior Giovanni Bronson.

“Learning new trades and skills that can build my resume is quite enjoyable,” he said.