Another New Visions academy that we have an SV senior enrolled in is the Engineering Academy. Students attending a New Visions academy spend mornings taking classes and working side-by-side with professionals in the community, observing and participating in real-world experiences.
Erik Gontar decided to apply for the Engineering Academy in his junior year because he was exploring different options for his future and found New Visions to offer the most value for his interests.
“The program provides a comprehensive experience, allowing me to prepare for my future career in engineering while also giving me the chance to explore different fields and see what truly excites me,” said Erik. “My peers also share this sentiment, as many of us have found our New Visions experience to be a unique and meaningful part of our educational journey.”
His favorite placement so far has been at Lockheed Martin. He found it incredibly valuable to see engineers in action. “The highlight for me was the presentation project we worked on,” shared Erik. “It gave me the chance to truly step into the role of an engineer and apply what I had learned.”
Engineering Academy students shadow at a minimum of five sites, which include the Endicott Waste-Water Treatment Facility, Lockheed Martin, McFarland Johnson, BAE Systems, and the NYS Department of Transportation. At the end of the year, students can select their final placements and work on a capstone project. Erik is hoping to return to Lockheed Martin to further explore his interests in computer engineering and programming. He looks forward to seeing what a day-to-day role in those fields looks like at Lockheed.
Erik plans to attend college and major in computer engineering with a focus on robotics research. He finds robotics incredibly fascinating and ultimately wants to pursue a career that combines his passion for computers with hands-on work, ideally in a field related to robotics.
New Visions Engineering students attend academy classes on SUNY Broome’s campus, visit departments at Binghamton University’s Watson School of Engineering, and also visit Syracuse University. They are introduced to engineering tools such as 3D modeling software like Autodesk Inventor and Revit, 3D printers, laser engravers, and microprocessors, plus get to delve into the areas of coding and robotics. They also are exposed to various engineering projects under the mentorship of local engineers.
In addition to their real-world experiences, New Visions students receive their grade 12 English and social studies requirements through program coursework in conjunction with SUNY Broome’s Fast Forward.
New Visions Recruitment Night for sophomores and their parents/guardians is 5 – 7 p.m. on March 4 in the cafeteria on the Broome-Tioga BOCES campus, 435 Glenwood Road, Binghamton. Any tenth graders interested in the New Visions program can attend this event, which coincides with the Career & Technical Education Recruitment Night. You can also visit the New Visions web page for more information about this program and its academies.