Shaker High School senior Elena Hymes was one of two students from Capital Region BOCES who gained leadership and professional skills during a trip last week to the nation’s capital. Representing New York State, Hymes (pictured left) and her peer Malachi Plaza (pictured right) joined 500 SkillsUSA officers from across the country for the SkillsUSA Washington Leadership Training Institute.
“It was a very positive experience. I had to step out of my comfort zone and explore what I had [in terms of leadership skills] and create what I didn't,” said Hymes.
Plaza seconded that sentiment.
“I found it very inspiring. I did not realize how impactful it would be to be in the nation's capital. As a result of this trip, I would consider a career in government,” he said.
Hymes is a Shaker High School senior enrolled in the Criminal Justice program at the Capital Region BOCES Career and Technical Education Center – Albany Campus. She and Plaza were both elected to serve as state representatives for the national SkillsUSA organization.
SkillsUSA is a career and technical student organization serving more than 395,000 high school and college students. The organization promotes personal and professional growth and offers students the opportunity to compete at the local, regional, state and national levels. The organization also promotes giving back to the community, locally resulting in collections each year for food pantries and city missions.
Advisor Debra Toy, who accompanied the pair on the trip, said the national leadership conference provided the students with leadership training and the opportunity to visit senators and representatives on Capitol Hill to advocate for Career & Technical Education and Perkins V funding.
Prior to going to Washington, the students met with Capital Region BOCES Career and Technical Education Director Jeff Palmer to learn how the federal funding works and how it is utilized at Capital Region BOCES.
“It was great to have the opportunity to advocate for what we believe in,” said Hymes.