Congratulations to Watervliet High School senior LaJay York on being selected the recipient of the Evan M. Schwarz Helping Hand Memorial Scholarship through the Capital Region BOCES Career & Technical Education (CTE) Center.
CTE teacher Don Mattoon and CTE administrators recently presented the $500 award to LaJay who will complete the Welding and Metal Fabrication program at CTE this year and has already been actively forging a career in the welding trade.
In her junior year, LaJay was hired by the Albany Department of General Services where she continues to work, welding and performing other tasks. LaJay plans to work next year while attending Hudson Valley Community College to expand her welding knowledge with a goal of being a welding inspector and/or instructor.
York said her interest in welding was sparked at an early age when working with her father.
“I went with my dad, and we would do home repair and construction stuff like that. As soon as I saw someone working with an oxygen-acetylene torch, my interest was sparked,” she explained.
Mr. Mattoon praised the high school senior as a leader and role model.
“LaJay is an excellent student who has led the way for young women interested in careers in the trades,” he said.
The Evan M. Schwarz award was established in 2011 to honor Evan Schwarz, who studied welding at Capital Region BOCES while a Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School junior and senior, earned straight A’s and has been described by his former teacher Mike Todd as “highly motivated, artistic and caring — just the type of student you’d want to have in your classroom.”
His parents, John and Donna Marie Schwarz, present the award twice annually.
“We let the teachers and the students’ peers make the selection. Every year, they pick a wonderful selection, and this year is no exception,” said John Schwarz.
Through the Capital Region BOCES Welding and Metal Fabrication program, students learn a range of skills from plasma arc cutting to shielded metal arc welding and earn a host of industry certifications as they prepare for the workforce or for more advanced training at specialized technical schools or colleges.