Family, friends, staff, and faculty gathered at Dunkirk High School to celebrate seniors along with students who have completed the SUNY Jamestown Community College portion of the program.

“Today, we come together to honor the amazing journey of our 2024 students,” Principal Jeffrey Teluk said.

The following students who are advancing to JCC received their certificates of achievement: Noah Benjamin and Bettie-Don Contreras of Dunkirk Central School; Riley Diate and Scott Flick of Silver Creek Central School; Felix Manzella of Fredonia Central School; Derek Milne of Gowanda Central School; Brady Wetherby and Jayden Williams of Jamestown Public Schools; and Christopher Wiltsie of Holland Central School.

The following JCC graduates were also recognized: Steven Zentz and Jeffrey DeYoung Jr., A.A.S. degrees in Welding Technology; and Preston Niemeyer and Charles Scott, A.A.S degrees in Mechanical Technology Machine Tool.

Bettie-Don Contreras and Noah Benjamin, both of Dunkirk, collect certificates at the Senior Advancement Ceremony for WNY P-TECH. Below is Scott Flick of Silver Creek and a seat left open for Wyatt Butcher, a P-TECH student who passed away in 2022. Wyatt, who was studying welding, was part of the Class of 2024.

Felix Manzella provided the student address, noting that the skills learned at WNY P-TECH will “carry on with us into our future endeavors.”

He continued, “This program has shaped us into the skilled and intelligent people we are today. I can only hope we will continue to be such people in the future. On my own behalf, and on behalf of my peers, thank you, P-TECH, for all that you have done for us.”

Jordan Butterfield, a graduate of P-TECH’s first cohort class in 2021, told students to trust themselves as they move forward in their lives. He also encouraged them to learn from others when starting new careers, alluding to the experience and wisdom others possess that may prove beneficial.

Nonetheless, Butterfield said it’s up to the students to put in the effort if they want to succeed.

“Only you can accomplish what you want to,” he said. “No one can do it for you. Always trust yourself that you will do that.”

Bettie-Don Contreras and Noah Benjamin, both of Dunkirk, collect certificates at the Senior Advancement Ceremony for WNY P-TECH. Below is Scott Flick of Silver Creek and a seat left open for Wyatt Butcher, a P-TECH student who passed away in 2022. Wyatt, who was studying welding, was part of the Class of 2024.

Providing the administration address from Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES was Leo Fial, director of P-TECH, Career and Technical Education, and Program Innovation. He sought to instill “information, advice, and words of wisdom” to those moving on to higher education, the military, or the workforce.

Fial stressed the importance of paying it forward, whether through community service or random acts of kindness.

“When you pay it forward, you are usually changing someone else’s circumstances for the better,” said Fial, who also encouraged students to take care of themselves, “physically, emotionally, and spiritually.”

“Living a healthy lifestyle is going to be the single most important thing you can do,” he said.

Julia Witherell helped present a scholarship in memory of Wyatt Butcher, a P-TECH student who passed away in 2022. Wyatt, who was studying welding, was part of the Class of 2024.

Bettie-Don Contreras and Noah Benjamin, both of Dunkirk, collect certificates at the Senior Advancement Ceremony for WNY P-TECH. Below is Scott Flick of Silver Creek and a seat left open for Wyatt Butcher, a P-TECH student who passed away in 2022. Wyatt, who was studying welding, was part of the Class of 2024.

A seat bearing his name was left open at the Senior Advancement Ceremony.

“The students here today were able to share and enjoy having known Wyatt and share in the heartbreak of his absence,” Witherell said.

She said Wyatt felt “loved and accepted” by his fellow P-TECH students. “I cannot thank you enough for that,” she said. “P-TECH is more than just a school; it’s a family.”

This year, the Wyatt Butcher Memorial Scholarship was given to Christopher Wiltsie.

In other honors, Felix Manzella was named the College Connections Student of the Year, while Derek Milne received the Tri-County BOCES Scholarship.

Julie Sek provided the teacher address, and Todd Tranum of the Manufacturers’ Association of the Southern Tier handled Dream It Do It badging to Noah Benjamin, Riley Diate, Scott Flick, Felix Manzella, and Jayden Williams.

Tranum noted the vital role P-TECH plays in preparing students, which he said could open doors to advanced manufacturing careers.

“This has been an incredibly important part of our educational system, and that’s coming right from the manufacturing community,” Tranum said. “We see P-TECH as being an incredibly important part of building today’s and tomorrow’s workforce.”

WNY P-TECH STEM College & Career Academy is an up to six-year commitment for students and their school districts. Students remain enrolled in their home districts for the length of the program while completing their Regents Diplomas and associate of applied science degrees.