Three participants from the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Valley Pathways in Technology Early College High took part in a New York Power Authority internship this summer and helped conduct an industrial energy audit for ConMed in Utica.
Under supervision and guidance from the Syracuse Industrial Audit Center, the three interns learned about technical lighting, HVAC systems and the best practices to use electricity in the most efficient manner for a large-scale facility. After a site visit, they assisted in the formal assessment recommendation report to be delivered to ConMed with suggestions on how to better conserve electricity.
“It was a great experience for the interns to be able to participate in a meaningful project like this,” Herkimer BOCES Technical Education Assistant Principal Dennis Hooks said. “It goes right in line with goals of VP-TECH including project-based learning with real-world applications.”
The interns from Herkimer BOCES VP-TECH were Sam Malinowski, a member of the 2023 CVA graduating class; Ryan Pierce, a Herkimer student who is entering his fifth year of the VP-TECH program; and Chris Janis a Central Valley student who graduated from the VP-TECH program in 2023 with an associate degree in quality assurance from Herkimer College.
The Herkimer BOCES VP-TECH focuses on technology, project-based learning and real-world work situations. VP-TECH is a six-year program that can also be completed early in four or five years.
VP-TECH students have the opportunity to earn a Regents diploma, complete a Career and Technical Education program, make connections with local businesses and earn a no-cost associate degree from Herkimer College. The associate degree can be in quality assurance, and pending state approval, associate degree options will be expanded to also include esports management, business administration, computer network and security, and electrical engineering technology.
The six-week internship through the New York Power Authority was based out of the New York Energy Zone in Utica. The internship included training and conducting the energy audit. Interns also participated in weekly networking and financial literacy workshops to better understand the energy industry and investments. ConMed is a New York Power Authority customer as part of the authority’s “ReCharge New York” program, which requires an energy audit once every five years.
From left, Sam Malinowski, Ryan Pierce and Chris Janis of the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Valley Pathways in Technology Early College High School present at the New York Power Authority P-TECH Summer Internship Final Presentations on Aug. 17 at the authority’s headquarters in White Plains. The VP-TECH students were one of eight internship teams who presented at the event, and the VP-TECH students presented about an industrial energy audit they conducted for ConMed in Utica.
From left, Ryan Pierce, Chris Janis and Sam Malinowski of the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Valley Pathways in Technology Early College High School conduct an industrial energy audit inside the ConMed factory in Utica as part of their New York Power Authority internship.
From left, Ryan Pierce, Chris Janis and Sam Malinowski of the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Valley Pathways in Technology Early College High School conduct an industrial energy audit on the roof of the ConMed factory in Utica as part of their New York Power Authority internship.
From left, Chris Janis, Ryan Pierce and Sam Malinowski of the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Valley Pathways in Technology Early College High School pose outside ConMed in Utica with Syracuse University graduates they teamed up with for an industrial energy audit of ConMed.
From left, Sam Malinowski, Ryan Pierce and Chris Janis of the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Valley Pathways in Technology Early College High School present at the New York Power Authority P-TECH Summer Internship Final Presentations on Aug. 17 at the authority’s headquarters in White Plains. The VP-TECH students were one of eight internship teams who presented at the event, and the VP-TECH students presented about an industrial energy audit they conducted for ConMed in Utica.
From left, Sam Malinowski, Ryan Pierce and Chris Janis of the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Valley Pathways in Technology Early College High School present at the New York Power Authority P-TECH Summer Internship Final Presentations on Aug. 17 at the authority’s headquarters in White Plains. The VP-TECH students were one of eight internship teams who presented at the event, and the VP-TECH students presented about an industrial energy audit they conducted for ConMed in Utica.