Submitted photo Current and newly inducted WNY P-TECH National Honor Society members are pictured.

WNY P-TECH recently held its annual National Honor Society Induction Ceremony. The event spotlighted seven inductees and included guest speakers from Bush Industries, P-TECH alumna Whitney Hice ’21 of Dunkirk, and Hope Smith ’22 of Jamestown.

Hice, a Space Planning Administrator, and Smith, an Engineering Technician, were in attendance representing Bush Industries. The company currently employs three WNY P-TECH graduates and has opened its doors for increased internship opportunities for students, which has led to it being named the 2023 WNY P-TECH Business Partner of the Year.

“We joined P-TECH as an idea that was flourishing and developing but we joined it with a dream and hope, to step away from our normal schools, and to become part of a new family and a new way of thinking. I applaud the students here for taking that step and changing their future,” Hice said. “P-TECH opened doors for me that at the time I thought would not be possible and I was easily able to find a job in our community through P-TECH.”

Inductees into the NHS included Rebecca DeYoung of Silver Creek, Dominic McDonald-Abraham and Jared Sek of Dunkirk, Nathaniel Valiente and Ethan Warblow of Jamestown, Marcus Williams of Lake Shore, and Nicholas Williams of Holland.

“I remember being in the same place as our new NHS inductees just a few years ago, and looking back I remember the wonderful opportunities and experiences I was able to have through P-TECH and the Honor Society. Through NHS, I was able to participate in a number of fundraisers, and events and really take advantage of the offerings at P-TECH.”

Following the candelighting ceremony and NHS pledge, Dominic”DJ” McDonald-Abraham shared briefly his experience about enrolling in the program.

“I love being a student of P-TECH. Words can’t describe how it has impacted my life,” he said. “I’m blessed with many opportunities and the knowledge of STEM.”