WNY P-TECH recently held its National Honor Society induction ceremony. Eleven students were admitted to the NHS.
Eleven WNY P-TECH students were inducted into the National Honor Society during a recent ceremony in Dunkirk.
Inductees included Maia Benjamin, Parker Vaughn, Jackson Lowry, Aaron Makakanja and Dunkirk's Brandon Nobbs. Paul Cunningham of Jamestown; Joshua Guadagno and Jonathan Pirsky of Silver Creek; Noah Hardy of Pine Valley. and Max Hansen Yvette and Seamus Matwijou of Gowanda.
The guest speaker for the commencement ceremony was Robin Brown, Acting Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction.
Mr. Brown said that P-TECH “A strong belief that a single school can provide high school students with all the tools they need to succeed academically, in their careers, and in life.” She said students push themselves in the classroom and “Scientists among the Fellows” This drive has been fueled by a constant desire to learn and a support system of students.
“It's not just a building or a teacher or one friend that can support each of these students. It's a collective.” she said. “Everyone in this room plays a role in the success of our students. Your unity and dedication to this great program has made it the special place it is today.”
Following the annual candle lighting ceremony, Leo Fial, Director of P-TECH, CTE, and Program Innovation, read the National Honor Society Pledge.
WNY P-TECH School Counselor Erin Moynihan was responsible for pinning the honor.
WNY P-TECH Principal Jeff Teluk then congratulated 11 students on their induction into the National Honor Society.
“Today we formally recognize your achievements in scholarship, leadership, community service, and character.” Teruk said. “You have earned the privilege of joining the National Honor Society, which includes over 1 million students from all 50 states.”
He continued: “As individuals, we proudly celebrate this Hall of Fame induction and honor, but please recognize that there are many people who helped get us here today, most notably your parents and others. Your parents made your education a priority. They chose to send you to P-TECH. This is perhaps the best way to ensure that you are a good student and an engaged member of our community. That's one of the reasons.”
Fial said the students have excelled in academics and overall school performance since they came to P-TECH as freshmen.
“They became leaders in the student body and set an example for new and returning students at WNY P-TECH.” He said. “NHS induction is a way to recognize a student's excellence and leadership.”
P-TECH alumni Whitney Heiss (2021) of Dunkirk and Hope Smith (2022) of Jamestown provided closing remarks.
Smith is an engineering technician at Bush Industries. She noted the importance of her P-TECH to both students enrolled in the program and local businesses. She encouraged the students to take advantage of all the opportunities that P-TECH offers.
“This program gives you a lot of experience and allows you to make a lot of connections in different industries.” Smith said.
P-TECH, see page D6
Hice is an inside sales manager at Bush. She recounted the important role P-TECH played in helping her find her job and marveled at how much the program had grown.
“The amount of resources you have to tap into, the amount of networking you can do now to further your career later on is extraordinary.” Heiss said.
WNY P-TECH STEM College & Career Academy offers a differentiated, project-based learning structure led by professional educators who work in partnership with higher education, business partners, and public school districts.
Students work towards the NYS Regents Diploma and AAS degrees in Welding Technology, Mechanical Technology with a specialization in CADD or Machine Tools, or Mechatronics at Jamestown Community College.
WNY P-TECH is currently accepting new 9th grade students for the 2024-25 academic year. To learn more and see if this is the right opportunity for you, 8th graders or their parents can contact WNY P-TECH Principal's girlfriend Jeff Teluk at 716-672-3250 or jteluk@e2ccb.org Please send an email to. For more information, please visit www.e2ccb.org/wnyptech.
