Ashley Fullington from South Kortright Central School District and Ashley Camarda from Charlotte Valley Central School District formed the Community Service Action Team that competed in and finished 3rd at the national SkillsUSA competition. The Cosmetology students are coached by their teacher and SkillsUSA advisor, Ms. Laurie Darfler-Sweeney. The team representing the Northern Catskill Occupational Center (NCOC) of ONC BOCES previously won the New York State Competition to advance to the National Finals. As a result of the pandemic, both competitions were held remotely.
The Community Service Project consisted of the students interviewing and recording fellow students as to which teachers have had the most impact on their development in their selected programs. The students also constructed a survey to quantify the level of positive mindset shift the teachers had after viewing their students’ recorded praise of the teachers. Once the NYS competition was finished, the Team had to continue the project and its sustaining effects. To this end, the students developed a daily journal that recorded positive experiences in the classroom to reinforce the initial effects of the project. This on-going journal was supplemented with awards and thank you notes to the teachers by students leading to a positive mind set shift at NCOC.
Laurie Darfler-Sweeney stated that she is “...very proud of her students and impressed how Ashley and Ashley grew this project out of an idea and just kept developing and refining their efforts to really make a marketed change in our school community.” Principal Crystal Trasks reacted, “...3rd in the nation!! Our humble little BOCES in rural Grand Gorge was proudly represented by two Cosmetology Juniors for their work on the Community Action project and awarded the bronze award! Congratulations to Ashley and Ashley, their Advisors, and Cosmetology teacher, Laurie Darfler-Sweeney.”
Congratulations to Ashley, Ashley, the SkillsUSA advisors, and Ms. Darfler-Sweeney on an extraordinary project and well-deserved recognition!
Check-out their video!