Zach Luick was a Lockport student in the Electricity/Electronics program at the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center (OCTEC) from 2022-2023. “The programs at BOCES are so good!” he says. “I find it maddening that school counselors will tell you things like “You are on the college track, why would you want to go there?” Why wouldn’t you go there? It was one of the best decisions I have made so far. You get to explore something that interests you and see if it is something you might want to actually pursue in college or go into after graduation. Even if you choose not to go down that path, you have those skills for life and you will use them.”
Another thing he loved is the new friends he made. “I made friends in class and also other Lockport students that I would have probably not have interacted with in our high school, but we all got to know one another on the bus rides. Now I can say that I know a good mechanic, an animal caretaker, a welder, etc.”
Zach was definitely a prize student. When he was at OCTEC he took home two New York State SkillsUSA competition gold medals and two silver medals from the National SkillsUSA competition. “My Electricity/Electronics teacher Bill Leggett was such a huge inspiration and one of the best teachers I have ever had in my life. He taught me so much and he was great with giving us a project and having us rough it out and then helped to guide us if we hit a wall. Thanks to him, I grew more confident in my abilities and fell in love with electricity and electronics.” Zach says there were other teachers who inspired him while at the center. I remember working with Bill Rakonczay (Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering teacher) and Paul Herrmann (Computer Technology teacher) and they were great in helping me to prepare for competition. They are just amazing human beings. One of the things about BOCES and these teachers that I love is the giving back to the community and how that is highlighted not only at school, but in their personal lives as well. They teach you to be a good citizen. Also, it is the first time for many of us that we have to take accountability for our behavior. It is a privilege to be there and they don’t have to keep you if you act up or do not follow the rules. It is a good lesson in responsibility.”
While still in high school, Zach applied for the Corning Technician Pipeline Program. Corning, a Fortune 500 company, is one of the leading innovators in material science such as glass, ceramics and optical physics. The Pipeline Program was established to produce more qualified technicians by establishing their own customized talent pipeline. “I was so fortunate to get accepted,” he says. “I chose to go to Durham, North Carolina and they paid for all my schooling, including tuition and books, to get my AAS (Associate of Applied Science) degree. I went to school for four days a week and worked one day a week and I earned a full salary. I think the main reason I got accepted into the program was because of my BOCES education and experiences with SkillsUSA. One of things that was very beneficial, is that at BOCES we had to prepare our resume and we had a great English teacher, Suzanne Zewan, who worked with all of us on how to get it perfect. I am so grateful for that!”
Zach says he loves his job at Corning and the fact that they are continually giving him a chance to further his education. “They recently sent me to get certified in HVAC. It has been exciting to increase my skills and knowledge. I would love to be a jack of all trades. I am actually pursuing a separate degree on my own so I can have a side business as a contactor.” He says he wouldn’t rule out returning to BOCES one day to teach. “I think it would be great to pass on my knowledge to the next generation. It would be rewarding to inspire students the way that I was inspired. I think I would share with them to not be afraid to ask questions. You really cannot go wrong with hands-on learning and getting prepared for the real world after graduation. You won’t know what you are capable of until you try. I know I would not be here now without attending BOCES.”