Area students, including eight seniors from Westmoreland Jr./Sr. High School, had the opportunity to network with local business and industry leaders to learn more about their career interests at the Oneida-Herkimer-Madison (OHM) BOCES School and Business Alliance’s (SABA) 18th annual breakfast on December 7.
The program, featuring approximately 240 members of the business community and students, was held in The Howard D. Mettelman Learning Center at the OHM BOCES on Middle Settlement Road in New Hartford. During the breakfast, students were able to network with representatives from 33 different career sectors, including those in Business; Communications and the Arts; Healthcare; Human/Social Services/Public Service; Natural and Agricultural Science; and STEM (Science-Technology-Engineering-Math).
David Peterson II, analyst in client services at BNY Mellon, was the program’s master of ceremonies and Oneida County Sheriff Robert Maciol was the guest speaker. As always, breakfast was prepared by the OHM BOCES Career and Technical Education Center’s Culinary Arts students.
Several local business and industry leaders were also honored. Westmoreland Jr./Sr. High School senior, Ben Christensen, presented the “Shining Star Award” to Dr. Evan Sandler and Dr. Heather Sandler of CNY Veterinary Medical Services.
The mission of SABA is “to provide career development and work-based learning experiences which inspire and enable students to make informed decisions about post-secondary and career opportunities.” Offerings include career development, speakers and shadowing, college and career tours, summer work opportunities, The Regional Program for Excellence, which gives highly motivated high school juniors and seniors opportunities to explore their career choices in a work setting with respected professionals, and TechPrep, which encourages students to complete a four-unit sequence in STEM.