Middleburgh Teen Named SkillsUSA Student of the Year at BOCES

ALBANY – A Middleburgh teenager with aspirations for a career in law enforcement has been named the SkillsUSA Student of the Year on the Capital Region BOCES Career & Technical Education Center – Schoharie Campus (CTE).

Ayumi Shaw graduated on June 12 from the Criminal Justice program where she is learning about the history, theory, practices and recent developments in the field of criminal justice, as well as practicing the skills necessary for those careers.

The SkillsUSA Student of the Year honor is given to the students on each Career and Technical School campus who best exemplifies SkillsUSA by their leadership and service to others, participation in all facets of the organization, and dedication and diligence to their vocation.

“I want to pursue a career in the behavioral analysis unit of the FBI and maybe go into the special victim’s unit,” said Shaw.

Shaw said she is pursuing a career in criminal justice because she has always enjoyed helping people and wants to expand on that for her professional future.

“I want to be able to help people in their time of need. I want to help them change some things for the better,” she said.

The Middleburgh teenager said she also enjoys the fact that BOCES is giving her a solid foundation for her future.

“Attending Capital Region BOCES taught me how to be a professional, as well as multiple skills,” she said. “CTE gave me an opportunity to do what I want to do with my career and gave me a head start on my education.”

Shaw is attending Bryant and Stratton College in the fall in pursuit of a four-year degree in criminal justice. Thanks to a partnership between Capital Region BOCES and the college, she has already earned credits at the college. 

There are approximately 90 students enrolled in the two-year Criminal Justice program this school year. The program is offered on the Albany and Schoharie Career & Technical Education campuses for those students who are preparing for careers in law enforcement, the military, law or security. 

For more information on the Criminal Justice program, visit https://www.capitalregionboces.org/career-technical-education/courses-programs/criminal-justice/.