Two students in the Heavy Equipment Repair Operations program recently helped represent Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES at the BOCES Fall Expo 2025 at the State Education Building in Albany.
Heavy Equipment Repair Operations (HERO) instructor Jeff Weeks and senior HERO students Connor White and Emma Tripple joined state education officials and representatives from many other BOCES at the event to promote BOCES and their program.
“It was a great experience for them,” Weeks said. “It was really nice to see a bunch of programs from all over the state.”
The BOCES Fall Expo 2025 took place on Monday, Nov. 3, in the New York State Education Department rotunda at the State Education Building. New York State Education Commissioner Betty Rosa, members of the New York State Board of Regents and other state educational officials joined representatives from various BOCES.
In addition to the HERO program, Herkimer BOCES was represented at the event by District Superintendent D.J. Shepardson, Director of Career and Technical Education Zane Mahar and Principal of Career and Technical Education Sheri Perry.
The HERO students displayed items and information about their program. They were visited by Board of Regents members, BOCES district superintendents and NYSED officials, and they answered questions about their program.
Weeks said it was beneficial for his students to gain practice with presentation and communication skills during the event. Presenting to state education officials was different from other times students present about the class because they’re normally talking to younger students who are considering joining the program.
“That opened up their eyeballs too,” he said.
White, from Dolgeville Central School District, said presenting at the event was “absolutely” helpful for his future – both for school presentations and for his career.
“It improves your social skills, and you get to listen to what questions people had to ask about a trade like HERO,” White said.
White also enjoyed getting to meet state education officials, and it was easy to understand what their role is in supporting education, he said.
“It was cool,” he said.
White, who plans to pursue a career in heavy equipment, was happy to promote the value of BOCES during the event because of what BOCES provides for students.
“It’s very helpful getting trained in a trade that you don’t have to pay for,” he said. “It’s amazing – as long as you have an interest in what you’re doing.”
Tripple, from Frankfort-Schuyler Central School District, also appreciated getting to build up her presentation skills at the event.
“We have upcoming projects, so it’s definitely helpful,” she said. “We presented our program to higher-up people than just presenting to our class.”
Meeting state education officials was another benefit of the experience, Tripple said.
“It was interesting meeting all the higher-ups that make decisions about education and stuff,” she said.
Tripple’s career plans include doing an internship in heavy equipment later this school year and working in heavy equipment while going to Mohawk Valley Community College to study radiology. She understands the value of BOCES and was happy to promote BOCES at the expo.
“They really help you learn about what you’re going to go into in the future,” she said.
