Jefferson-Lewis-Hamilton-Herkimer-Oneida BOCES’ Career & Technical Education Department is proud to announce the winners of the 2024 Alumni of Distinction Awards. They are Brett LaLone and Jonathan Schell.
Brett is a 2017 graduate of South Jefferson Central School and successfully completed the Heavy Equipment program at the Charles H. Bohlen, Jr. Technical Center. He also earned an Advanced Regents Diploma with Honors in Math, Career and Technical Endorsement, Associates in Business, and a CDL A License.
His nominator states “Brett embodies the qualities we hope all CTE graduates develop: A strong work ethic, honesty, pride in hard work, charity, and humility. Brett started working for his family business, Thomas Excavation and Thomas Trash Service, during high school and while at JCC. He has become an integral part of the business and helped expand the company into the related field of septic services.”
Brett continues to support Career and Technical Education by serving on the Heavy Equipment Advisory Committee. Thomas Excavation has been a longtime supporter of local CTE students through a yearly scholarship. In addition, at the age of 25, Brett serves as a member of the Town of Adams Board. He is also a volunteer with the Adams Fire Department.
Jonathan is a 1997 graduate of Copenhagen Central School and successfully completed the Gas & Diesel Mechanics program at the Howard G. Sackett Technical Center. He currently serves as the Geospatial Information Systems Analyst with the Development Authority of the North Country. After graduating from Copenhagen in 1997, Jonathan went on to SUNY Cobleskill and earned his Bachelor of Technology in Agriculture Equipment in 2000 and a Master's in Arts of Teaching from Cornell University, majoring in Agriculture Education in 2003.
His nominator states, “After graduating from Cornell in 2003, Jonathan worked 13 years for the Cornell Cooperative Extension System assisting farmers stay viable in an ever changing global agriculture climate. Jonathan was hired to replace his former Gas & Diesel teacher Bob Bronson who retired, where he taught the same class from 2016-2018. In 2018 Jonathan went to work for the Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust where his biggest accomplishment was writing 7 million dollars’ worth in grants for farmland protection that protected just shy of 2000 acres of farmland in the region. In 2023, Jonathan was hired by the Development Authority to assist municipalities in St. Lawrence, Jefferson and Lewis Counties track their infrastructure assets building on his Geospatial knowledge he acquired at the land trust.”
Jonathan continues to support education as a member of the Carthage Central School District Board of Education and currently serves as the President of the Jefferson-Lewis School Boards Association.
More information on the Alumni of Distinction Award, including past winners and qualifications, visit www.boces.com/alumni
About Jefferson-Lewis-Hamilton-Herkimer-Oneida BOCES
Jefferson-Lewis-Hamilton-Herkimer-Oneida BOCES (Board of Cooperative Educational Services) offers cost-effective shared services to 18 component school districts. These services include career and technical education course offerings as well as special education, instructional and administrative support services. BOCES also serves the continuing education needs of local business, labor and industries in the community and offers a wide range of continuing education opportunities for adult learners. Learn more at www.boces.com.