Sept. 20, 1010
Jordan Gonyea plans to use the leadership skills he's acquired as a state officer for Skills USA to one day open his own construction business.
(Senior Jordan Gonyea represented BKW in a big way this week while he attended the Washington Leadership Training Institute presented by Skills USA in Washington D.C.
There he met with Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY, to discuss the importance of high school career and technical education, among other leadership and skill-building activities.
Gonyea, who is treasurer of the New York State chapter of Skills USA, applied for and won the scholarship that paid for his trip to the annual leadership conference, which brings select students to Washington, D.C. for training aimed at helping them excel in leadership, citizenship and the workforce.
Since his junior year, Gonyea has attended the Schoharie campus of the Capital Region BOCES Career & Technical School, studying construction in addition to taking classes at BKW. He became involved with Skills USA, a national nonprofit organization serving students in trade programs, last year. With his natural leadership abilities at the forefront, he was quickly chosen to serve as a state officer.
“This conference is going to show me how to be a leader,” Gonyea said just a few days before he left for Washington. “This will be a great opportunity to know what it feels like to be in charge.”
Gonyea first discovered a knack for building and working with his hands when he began helping his uncle, a pipe fitter, with odd jobs. Gonyea is now studying construction at Career & Tech, with plans to one day open his own business.
“He’s been dynamic to work with,” says CTE Schoharie Campus Principal Denise Capece. “He’s an outstanding student with strong leadership skills. This will be a very exciting opportunity for him.”
“We couldn’t be more proud of Jordan’s accomplishments,” says BKW Secondary School Principal Tom McGurl. “To attend this conference is a real honor and he couldn’t be more deserving.”|
Gonyea says he owes his success to the opportunity to hone his trade skills at Career & Tech.
“It’s changed everything in my life,” Gonyea says. “I never thought I’d get to the point where I am now. This program will take you places.”
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