AME students at BOCES attend camp to see needs in WNY manufacturing workforce

Photos courtesy of Orleans/Niagara BOCES: Steven Miles (Royalton-Hartland) is shown with Steve Blask, a teacher from North Tonawanda High School.

Press Release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES

It was an awesome day on Thursday in Bill Rakonczay’s Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering program.

For their first time, students in the senior and junior classes took part in Dream It Do It Western New York TCAM (Teacher, Counselor, Administrator and Manufacturer) Camp.  The camp was a fun and informative opportunity to provide content and context pertaining to exciting careers in manufacturing that are in our region. The students enjoyed networking with local manufacturers and educators.

Dream It Do It Western New York includes over 1,615 manufacturers, employing 70,000 people and generating $26.8 billion in manufacturing shipments per year. Students learned that manufacturing in the WNY region accounts for 12% of the total workforce which is well beyond the 8% national average.

Over the next 10 years, industry estimates indicate that due to retirements and growth there will be a substantial shortage of qualified employees to fill this gap. Dream It Do It Western New York Partners with local school districts in the area and BOCES to address the workforce needs of manufacturers through the coordinated efforts of stakeholders and resources.

At Thursday’s event, component school district counselors, teachers, college representatives and local manufacturers’ employees partnered with Mr. Rakonczay’ s students with some hands-on technology experiences and a tour of Edwards Vacuum in Wheatfield.

It was a great opportunity to see new technology and learn about products that were made locally and explore career opportunities.

“I was honored to host the first Dream It, Do It TCAM Camp,” says Mr. Rakonczay.  “It was a great opportunity to show local educators and counselors what we can do.”

Tyler Rothwell, a student at Royalton-Hartland, is shown with Roy-Hart staff Eliza Feocco and Michele Parker at the “Dream It Do It Western New York TCAM Camp.”