Students in the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Conservation program won and placed in multiple regional and state competitions this school year.
Conservation instructor William Carpenter said he has immense pride in the students and that they’re setting the bar high for student achievement in environmental science and skilled trades.
“These young men and women have demonstrated skill, determination and a deep respect for the environment and each other,” Carpenter said. “Their achievements this year reflect the strength of our program and the bright futures ahead for each of them.”
Leading the charge for the program was Conservation junior Isabelle Beacraft, from Little Falls City School District, who won first place in the Job Skill Demonstration Open event at the SkillsUSA New York State Leadership and Skills Conference in April in Syracuse. She advanced to nationals and will compete at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in June in Atlanta.
“Her win marks a significant milestone for the program and highlights the depth of talent nurtured within the conservation class,” Carpenter said.
The Conservation program’s success continued at the regional Envirothon, where two Herkimer BOCES teams took first-place titles. The overall winning team included Orion Bliss (Central Valley), Emily Hartman (Mount Markham), Isabele Horan (Poland), Cooper Jordan (Herkimer) and Kacie Owen (Mount Markham), while the Forestry category champions were Tristan Klotz (Frankfort-Schuyler), Kadyn Pedrick (Little Falls), Braelyn Edick (Dolgeville), Caileigh Youker (Dolgeville) and Avril Lamphere (Little Falls). The overall winning team is headed to SUNY Cortland to compete at the New York State Envirothon Championship.
Also, at the New York State Conservation Competition, hosted at SUNY Cobleskill, Herkimer BOCES Conservation students made another big impression. In the Dendrology (tree identification) event, they swept the entire podium: Klotz took first place, followed by Jordan in second, Horan in third, Brady Saunders (Herkimer) in fourth and Youker in fifth.
Additional New York State Conservation Competition winners from Herkimer BOCES were:
· Wildlife Identification – first place: Edick
· Female Bow Saw – first place: Hartman, fourth place: Allyson Morales (Central Valley)
· Chainsaw Speed Cut – second place: Owen, third place: Cody Cool (West Canada Valley)
· Jack & Jill Log Roll – second place: Owen and Kaden Looman (Frankfort-Schuyler)
· Male Bow Saw – second place: Jordan
· Pulp Toss – fifth place: Owen
“With students advancing to both national- and state-level competitions, the Herkimer BOCES Conservation program continues to prove that hands-on education and hard work lead to real-world success,” Carpenter said.
Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Conservation instructor William Carpenter and many of his students who have reached success at regional and state competitions pose for a photo.