Inductees included Myah Benjamin, Parker Bohn, Jackson Laurie, Aaron Macakanja, and Brandon Nobbs of Dunkirk; Paul Cunningham of Jamestown; Joshua Guadagno and Jonathan Pilski of Silver Creek; Noah Hardy of Pine Valley; and Max Hansen-Ivett and Seamus Matwijow of Gowanda.

Guest speaker for the Induction Ceremony was Robin Brown, Acting Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction.

Brown said P-TECH was created on the “powerful belief that a single school can equip high school students with all the tools they need to succeed academically and thrive in their careers and in life.” She said students have pushed themselves in the classroom to become “scholars among their peers,” a drive that has been fueled by a desire to always learn and through support systems students have in place.

“It’s not just a building or a teacher or a single friend who can support each of these students alone; it’s a collective,” she said. “Everyone in this room has had a role to play in these students’ success. Your collective commitment and dedication to the wonderful program helped make it the special place it is today.”

The annual candle-lighting ceremony was followed by Leo Fial, director of P-TECH, CTE, and Program Innovation, reading the National Honor Society pledge.

Pinning honors was handled by Erin Moynihan, WNY P-TECH School Counselor.

Afterward, Jeff Teluk, WNY P-TECH principal, congratulated the 11 students on their induction into the National Honor Society.

“Today serves as a formal acknowledgement of your achievements in scholarship, leadership, community service, and character,” Teluk said. “You have earned the privilege of joining the National Honor Society, which includes over 1 million students from all 50 states.”

He continued: “As individuals, proudly celebrate this induction and honor, but realize that there are many people who helped you get here today. Most notably, your parents and guardians prioritized your education. They elected to send you P-TECH, which is most likely one of the biggest reasons you are an exceptional student and an invested member of our community.”

Fial said the students have excelled in their academic studies and overall school performance since coming to P-TECH as freshmen.

“They have become leaders of the student body, setting an example for new students and returning students of WNY P-TECH,” he said. “Being inducted into the NHS is a way to recognize student excellence and leadership.”

P-TECH alumna Whitney Hice (2021) of Dunkirk and Hope Smith (2022) of Jamestown made closing remarks.

Smith is an Engineer Technician at Bush Industries. She noted the importance of P-TECH, both for students enrolled in the program and for local businesses. She encouraged students to take advantage of all the opportunities P-TECH has to offer.

“There is a lot of experience that you can gain from this program and many connections that you can make in many different industries,” Smith said.

See P-TECH, Page D6

Hice serves as Inside Sales Administrator at Bush. She recounted the important role P-TECH had in helping her find work and marveled at how much the program has grown.

“The amount of resources that you guys have to take advantage of, the amount of networking you’re able to do now to help further your career later, is extraordinary,” Hice said.

The WNY P-TECH STEM College & Career Academy offers a project-based, differentiated learning structure with specialized educators working in tandem with higher education, business partners, and public school districts.

Students work to earn NYS Regents diplomas and A.A.S. degrees in Welding Technology, Mechanical Technology with specializations in CADD or machine tool, or Mechatronics from Jamestown Community College.

WNY P-TECH is currently accepting incoming ninth-grade students for the 2024-25 school year. To learn more and see if it’s the right opportunity, eighth-grade students or their parents should contact Jeff Teluk, WNY P-TECH principal, at 716-672-3250 or email jteluk@e2ccb.org. For more information, visit www.e2ccb.org/wnyptech.