By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
OLEAN — More than 170 graduates from the CA BOCES Career and Technical Education Center at Olean received diplomas at commencement ceremonies at Olean High School auditorium Friday night.
Skills USA President Lexi Benjamin led the audience and graduates in the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by an introduction by Olean CTE Building Principal Noel Sheehy.
District Superintendent Dr. Scott Payne got everyone’s attention with a request to share a photo from their cell phone’s camera with someone sitting near them. Then Payne urged them to share a story with a neighbor.
“These computers we carry around are really amazing,” he said.
Payne urged the graduates not to forget the important people in their lives — parents and grandparents, other family members, friends, teachers “and others who encourage you.”
Adding that “A picture is worth 1,000 words,” Payne took his cell phone out and took a “selfie” with graduates in the background.
CA BOCES Assistant Superintendent for Career and Technical Education James Schifley asked graduates to
Reflect for a moment “on what you have learned from us” and “the support and encouragement you’ve received.”
Shifley said he was sitting in their seats as a BOCES graduate 40 years ago and wished them luck.
Brooke Morgan, a 2018 BOCES Animal Science graduate, was introduced as the 2024 winner of the William J. O’Connell Award winner.
“Beyond the diplomas and certificates you’ll receive today, I want to talk to you about two essential ingredients for success: perseverance and passion,” Morgan said.
“As I stand before you today, I am deeply humbled to share this momentous occasion with you. My journey might sound much like yours, as it was filled with twists, turns, and unexpected challenges. I, too, am a product of Olean BOCES, having graduated from the Animal Science program in 2018,” Morgan said.
“After leaving BOCES, I pursued my passion for agriculture and education, eventually finding my calling as an agricultural teacher at Fonda Fultonville Central School. But the path to where I stand today was not without its obstacles. Throughout high school, I faced trials that tested my resolve and threatened to derail my dreams,” Morgan said.
“Perseverance is the fuel that propels us forward when faced with adversity. It’s the tenacity to keep pushing forward, even when the road ahead seems insurmountable,” she said.
“But perseverance alone is not enough. To truly excel, you must combine it with passion—the burning desire to pursue your dreams relentlessly,” Morgan told the graduates.
“Throughout your time at BOCES, you’ve encountered challenges—academic, personal, and professional. But you didn’t let those obstacles define you,” Morgan said. “Instead, you embraced them as opportunities for growth and learning. You’ve shown the world that setbacks are not roadblocks; they’re merely detours on the path to success.”
Morgan added: “As you leave these halls and step into the wider world, remember that the journey ahead will not always be easy. There will be moments of doubt, moments of fear, and moments of uncertainty.
“But in those moments, I want you to remember the lessons you’ve learned here—the importance of perseverance, the power of passion, and the wisdom of embracing your differences,” she said.
