The Oneida-Madison-Herkimer Counties School Boards Institute recently presented its 2026 Student Achievement Awards and Distinguished Service Awards to students and school officials in the region.
This year’s event also included a special recognition for James Van Wormer, who has worked in local education for 53 years including serving the past 18 years as the O-MH SBI executive coordinator. Van Wormer received both a Distinguished Service Award and the New York State School Board Association’s Crystal Apple Award, which is presented in recognition of a lifetime of outstanding leadership and service to the students of New York state.
During the event, Van Wormer spoke to the room full of school officials, teachers, counselors and students. He thanked the SBI and NYSSBA for the awards and thanked his family and others.
Van Wormer said he appreciates the award.
“But this award should go to everyone,” Van Wormer said. “You are the people who deserve this award. You are the people that are there daily working to make sure that your students succeed.”
The O-M-H SBI Awards and Annual General Membership Meeting took place on Thursday, May 14, at the Twin Ponds Golf and Country Club in New York Mills. The O-M-H SBI includes 35 school districts in the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES, Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES and Madison-Oneida BOCES regions.
The students and school officials were joined by their nominators, families, local board members and school officials to be honored and share their stories during the annual event.
New York State School Boards Association Area 5 Director William Miller and Member Relations Manager Patrick Longo presented Van Wormer with the Crystal Apple Award.
“I just want to say, Jim, you’re going to be really missed in all the things that you do,” Miller said.
Longo said Van Wormer is wise, welcoming, offers great feedback, helped him understand the needs of this area and became a friend and mentor to him.
“My father, a long time ago, he said, ‘You know what’s important to people by how they spend their time,’” Longo said. “And we appreciate the time you’ve given to all these wonderful folks who are doing this job and all the ways you’ve helped them and us. We consider you a friend of NYSSBA, and we thank you for everything you’ve done.”
Earlier in the evening, O-M-H SBI President Anthony Nicotera welcomed gusts, and Second Vice President Joseph Monfiletto led “The Pledge of Allegiance.”
“This event is truly the highlight of our year,” Nicotera said.
With Van Wormers stepping down from the O-M-H SBI executive coordinator position, Herkimer BOCES Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Services Kathryn Ferguson served as the interim executive coordinator this year. Ferguson also announced that retiring Whitesboro Central School District Superintendent Brian Bellair will become the new O-M-H SBI executive coordinator next school year.
Student Achievement Awards
The Student Achievement Awards are presented to high-school juniors who have demonstrated a positive attitude, which reflects initiative, a sense of responsibility and an ability to interact with others, including peers, faculty and the community.
Recipients also have strong character values, perform academically to the best of their ability and may have overcome significant adversity while working toward their career goals.
The Student Achievement Awards were presented this year to the following students:
• Juliana Antonuk, of Poland Central School District
• Esther Armstrong, of Morrisville-Eaton Central School District
• Katherine Figueroa, of Frankfort-Schuyler Central School District
• Luke Filippi, of Little Falls City School District and the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Culinary and Hospitality program
• Michael Guyer III, of Little Falls City School District
• Neena Jenkins-Rodriguez, of Herkimer Central School District
• Fabiana Velasquez, of Utica City School District
Distinguished Service Awards
The Distinguished Service Awards are presented to outstanding superintendents, Board of Education members, central office staff and others. The award seeks to recognize those who have dedicated time, continued support and strong action in the service of public education and the welfare of children and have demonstrated a positive influence in their school community and/or the state.
The Distinguished Service Awards were presented this year to the following school officials:
• James Van Wormer, former Oneida-Madison-Herkimer Counties School Boards Institute executive coordinator
• Brian Bellair, Whitesboro Central School District superintendent
• William Dowsland, Hamilton Central School District superintendent
• Pamela Dymes, Stockbridge Valley Central School District secretary to the superintendent/district clerk
• Thomas Piatti, Richfield Springs Central School District superintendent
• Julia Scranton, Clinton Central School District secretary to the superintendent/district clerk
Oneida-Madison-Herkimer Counties School Boards Institute 2026 Student Achievement Awards were given out to local students on Thursday, May 14, at the Twin Ponds Golf and Country Club in New York Mills. Winners, pictured from left: Michael Guyer III, of Little Falls City School District; Katherine Figueroa, of Frankfort-Schuyler Central School District; Juliana Antonuk, of Poland Central School District; Luke Filippi, of Little Falls City School District and the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Culinary and Hospitality program; Neena Jenkins-Rodriguez, of Herkimer Central School District, and Esther Armstrong, of Morrisville-Eaton Central School District. Not pictured: Student Achievement Award winner Fabiana Velasquez, of Utica City School District. View more photos on the Herkimer BOCES Facebook page at www.facebook.com/herkimerboces.
Oneida-Madison-Herkimer Counties School Boards Institute 2026 Distinguished Service Awards were given out on Thursday, May 14, at the Twin Ponds Golf and Country Club in New York Mills. Winners, pictured from left: Thomas Piatti, Richfield Springs Central School District superintendent; William Dowsland, Hamilton Central School District superintendent; Pamela Dymes, Stockbridge Valley Central School District secretary to the superintendent/district clerk; James Van Wormer, former Oneida-Madison-Herkimer Counties School Boards Institute executive coordinator; Brian Bellair, Whitesboro Central School District superintendent, and Julia Scranton, Clinton Central School District secretary to the superintendent/district clerk. View more photos on the Herkimer BOCES Facebook page at www.facebook.com/herkimerboces.
Former Oneida-Madison-Herkimer Counties School Boards Institute Executive Coordinator James Van Wormer speaks during the Oneida-Madison-Herkimer Counties School Boards Institute 2026 Annual General Membership Meeting on Thursday, May 8, at the Twin Ponds Golf and Country Club in New York Mills. Van Wormer received both a Distinguished Service Award and Crystal Apple Award. View more photos on the Herkimer BOCES Facebook page at www.facebook.com/herkimerboces.