Hello everyone, welcome! My name is Essie Lewis and I am the criminal justice
instructor here at Ulster BOCES. So I
want to start by thanking everyone for
joining our ceremony. I want to thank you
all for your support of the criminal
justice program, your supportive BOCES
and most importantly thank you for
supporting these young people over the
past two years. My career as a criminal
justice teacher at Ulster BOCES began in
the fall of 2018 right along with these
students who are graduating and they
have also taught me a great deal as I
was teaching them and I am very grateful.
Teaching and shaping young minds is an
awesome responsibility and a great
privilege as well so thank you students
for giving me this opportunity. I've had
the distinct honor of watching these
students grow into the young adults that
they've become and of course over the
past two years I've envisioned this day
many times and it didn't quite look the
same in my mind as it is here today but
it's almost more special than we could
have imagined because we're in such a
unique time in history. So I hope
everyone can really appreciate exactly
right here where we are.
Lastly I just want to say to my
graduates I am so proud of each and
every one of you and I really want you
to go out into the world and do your
best,
believe in yourself, have discipline, show
integrity and please treat everyone the
same respect and dignity and I pray that
everyone who is within the sound of my
voice will remember me as their teacher,
their kids teacher, whoever it is and
know that at least for these two years
that my life mattered to you. And I'm now going to introduce you our
emcee for this ceremony. Sergeant Madison Vancuren. Good afternoon I'm Madison Vancuren.
I want to take a moment to take my
teachers Mrs. Louis and Mr. Young, for choosing me to
do the master of ceremonies the criminal
justice class of 2020 Ulster BOCES
senior tribute. I also want to say how
grateful I am that for two years I have
been able to spend half of my school day
in an environment has fostered my
creativity and supported my lifelong
goal of becoming a police officer. I've
made new friends and fostered
connections with industry professionals
that I hope will last a lifetime. One
thing I've learned from my two years at
Ulster BOCES is what family truly is. All
of our long stressful days where we've
all felt we wanted to give up although
not one person including myself allowed
any of us to ever give up. Whether it was
during physical training, the crime scene
mock trial, bookwork, speeches, or even if
someone was just having a bad day and
that is because everyone in this class
deserves to succeed. We will always be
brothers and sisters. Through the
criminal justice program I've had the
amazing opportunity to be a part of the
Ulster County sheriff's Cadet Explorer
program. In the fall I will study a
criminal justice program at Ulster
County Community College.
Even though graduation looks different
for our class the achievement is still
the same. We have all put in the hard
work and have learned and grown so much. Way to go my fellow grads! I will now
introduce our keynote speaker Honorable
Judge Bryan Rounds, Ulster County Judge.
Judge rounds has always known practicing
criminal law was his life's mission.
Since childhood Judge rounds recalls
defending the falsely accused on the
playground and seeking justice in the
classroom. Raised by a single mother he
worked hard to graduate from college and with the help of
scholarships and loans made his way into
Albany law school. At just 25 years old
Rounds was appointed to be an assistant
district attorney where he prosecuted
cases for over half a decade. Bryan and
his wife Alexis were partners in their
private practice, Rounds and Rounds, 
specializing in criminal defects. Judge
Rounds also served as felony trial
counsel for the Ulster County Public
Defender's Office representing
underserved communitiess. In the 25 years
Judge Rounds practice criminal law, he
worked on both sides of the courtroom
and handled every type of felony
criminal case that could possibly come
before the Ulster County Court.
Rounds argued before the Appellate
Division of the third Department of New
York and was admitted to and practiced
criminal defense in federal court. He was
admitted to Northern District of New
York. He also appeared in argued before
the federal Second Circuit Court of
Appeals. He developed a reputation of
being an effective, charismatic and a
compassionate attorney who practices the
highest standards of ethics. Judge Rounds
was sworn into office on January 3rd of
2020 as an Ulster County judge and March of
this year of my class had the
opportunity to observe Judge Rounds in
action on the bench. I was astonished at
the amount of respect and inspirational
advice he had gave defendants before
sentencing them to incarceration. It is my
pleasure to present to you honorable
Judge Rounds. Well that leaves me
speechless, really I don't deserve that good of an introduction
but I'm gonna take you on
the road with me Miss Vancuren. Let me
just begin by saying congratulations of
course the all of you and your families
on this momentous occasion. What an
absolute honor and privilege it is to be
invited by your class to give the
keynote address today. I so enjoyed
having all of you in my courtroom and
I'm so impressed with all of your
intellect, your enthusiasm and most of
all what I perceive is your desire to to
understand and potentially work in the
criminal justice system. The timing of
today's proceedings could not possibly
be any more meaningful or powerful. There
is nothing on the planet even, the
pandemic that we're still currently in
the thick of that is in the spotlight
more than the reform of our criminal
justice system here in the United States
and around the world. Throughout our
history our criminal justice system has
struggled as a nation has struggled with
the true fulfillment of the promise of
equal justice under law. I
come to you now at the turn of the tide.
These past few weeks, the obvious effects
of racism have been laid plain and bare
for all to see. A new widespread
consciousness is forming among people of
goodwill of all races that none of us
are a free people until all of us are
indeed equal. The original sin of slavery
and all of its vestiges must finally
burn on the ash heap of history. If we
are ever to become what our founding
fathers believed we could be. Most of you
are perhaps familiar with the image of
Lady Justice. She stands with a, she's
standing actually on a snake she has a
sword in one hand and the scales of
justice in the other hand. But it is her
blindfold that historically has
represented the concept of equality.
Perhaps now maybe it is time to finally
tear off the blindfold. Not for purposes
of discrimination but rather so that she
can see the inequality and see also at
the same time the beauty of the many
different colors at the same time. Not to
see each color has its own stripe in its
own lane but rather to see in every
single person the entire rainbow.
What is to be done? That's the
fundamental question that is raging with
debate across the country and really the
world and while the multitudes engage in
the very important work of finding
systematic policies, let me offer a far
more modest but I believe with all of my
heart far more powerful solution. I offer
this to them and only this, you, all of
you, each and every single one of you
seniors it's your parents, your
grandparents, your ancestors, teachers
gift to the world and with your
intellect your enthusiasm and your
desire to make this world and this
criminal justice system a better place
and change us all of us
once and for all. Thank you. Thank you
Judge Rounds! I am now honored to
introduce a recording from the Ulster
County Sheriff Juan Figueroa. Let me take
a minute and recognize some of his
accomplishments. After active duty with
the Marines for four years, Ron served 18
years with the Marine Corps Reserve.
During that time as Chief Warrant
Officer he held primary responsibilities
in aviation logistics to support, budget
training deployment and facilities
abroad. In the early 1990s, he was charged
of deploying over 150 Marines in support
requirements during Operation Desert
Shield and Desert Storm. Juan became a
trooper at the New York State Police in
1988 patrolling roads in and around
Ulster County. During his 25 year term
State Police he assumed key leadership
roles initially as a police academy
instructor and field training officer.
Then as an investigator with the borough
of Criminal Investigation for 19 years.
Juan worked on several cases
involving drug cartels, investigations
during his team result in the seizure of
over 16 million dollars in cash, 400 plus
kilos of drugs, and their arrest of key
figures in the drug trade. Juan was also as
part of investigations related to
economic crime, corruption, racketeering,
extortion, and identity vehicle theft.
Please welcome our distinguished Ulster
County Sheriff Juan Figueroa. This is Juan
Figueroa of the Ulster County Sheriff's
Office. To the class of 2020
congratulations you did it! Your hard
work and commitment led to this great
day and this unique and unprecedented
time and humanity youth, new ideas and
education is needed more than ever. The
pandemic has changed human behavior. The
education that you recently received is
gonna be valuable and making positive
change. My mother once said.....which meant
to me is take a leap of faith don't be
afraid to take a risk,
change society. With that said you are a
future change the world, have faith in
humanity, good luck, 
now get to work! Thank you Judge Rounds and
Sheriff Figueroa for those inspiring
words of wisdom. I now have the pleasure
of introducing someone who has
unquestionably earned his reputation of
being hardworking and conscientious
student. Cisco and cybersecurity graduate
Landon Haight, our Salutatorian. Hello my
name is Landon Haight. I'm graduating from
Highland High School in the Ulster BOCES
CTC Cisco and cybersecurity program. I've
been given the honor as being selected
as salutatorian for the Ulster BOCES Building.
First I would like to congratulate the
class of 2020. We have been given many obstacles and
had to step outside our comfort zone
many times but we still achieve our
goals. Congratulations
when I first thought about what I
achieved here at the Ulster BOCES
building I realized that many things I
achieved were outside my comfort zone. I
achieved and learned new skills that
prepared me for college, I took him past
industry level certifications, I've
gotten many college credits, I gained my
New York State Technical endorsement,
and I'm sure many of you can list what
you have learned and achieved here at
the Ulster BOCES building and that all
began we first took your initial step
outside your comfort zone and attended
the Ulster BOCES building. Ralph Waldo
Emerson once said unless you try to do
something beyond what you've already
mastered you will never grow. Which leads
me to my next announcement Ms. Storenski
and Mr. Knuschke asked me to step in
for Dr. Landers next year as a Cisco and
cybersecurity teacher. What's that? Oh you
didn't hear? That's okay cuz I was just
kidding. I'll be studying at SUNY Duchess but lastly I'd like to
congratulate class 2020 once again. We've
been through many things but we still
keep going. Congratulations! Ulster BOCES prepares us
for our careers by exposing us to
current industry practices and modern
techniques and technology.
Professionalism and leadership skills
are also a part of our curriculum. So it
is with special excitement that I am
pleased to introduce to you our
principal Award winner Kaitlyn Ronk. As a
member of the National Technical Honor
Society and president of our schools
skillsUSA club. Kaitlyn is the epitome
of a true leader. Kaitlyn, who is also a
cosmetology student attributes
discovering their strengths to being a
part of the SkillsUSA Club. Take it away
Kaitlyn. Good afternoon I never thought
that we would be here graduating from
home not being able to spend the rest of
our school year with the friends and
teachers we've developed such close
relationships with. So here we are
separated by distance but connected by
the experiences and goals that we've
achieved. My name is Kaitlyn Ronk,
president of SkillsUSA, member of
National Technical Honor Society, a
senior at Rondout Valley High School and
a cosmetology student here at Ulster
BOCES. I have to admit this was a year
first for me. Running SkillsUSA meetings,
presenting at board meetings, talking to
a crowd of people, participating in
community service projects, realizing I
can make a difference and understanding
what it is to be a leader. I would have
never realized my potential if it wasn't
for my teachers and SkillsUSA advisors
recognizing
my talents. I got to attend the SkillsUSA
fall Leadership Conference where I met a
whole bunch of new people and we had the
chance to develop a community service
project and I was one of the lucky few
to be chosen to present in front of
hundreds of SkillsUSA members and
advisors from all over New York State. In
my junior year of Cosmetology we learned
about Sarah Breedlove also known as
madam CJ Walker. She was the first-ever women's self-made
millionaire she was an entrepreneur,
philanthropist and political and social
rights activist. As for many other women around the world
she inspired me as well. In December of
2019 I had the opportunity to sit down
with a Marine recruiter. He presented me
with metal cards and told me to rank
them from least to most important to me.
My top three were loyalty, leadership and
self-worth. I very quickly realized that
I'm not just an invisible girl, I'm a
woman with a voice and you have a voice
too! Congratulations class of 2020! And
now for the moment you have all been
waiting for....it is my pleasure to present
to you the Ulster BOCES Career and
Technical Centers criminal justice
program class of 2020 ! Tiana Bagley says
her favorite memory was meeting people at
Ulster BOCES that changed her life and
learning more about something that she's
passionate about. 
Malachai Bridge says his favorite memory
was everything at BOCES. Makalay Carston-Miller says going on field trips and
having class party for her favorite
memories. Kaleigh Coffey says participating
in mock trial was the best. Mr. Ryan
Dixon says working alongside many
students with the same interest was his
favorite memory. Congratulations Stevie
Erceg. Justin Evan's favorite memory was
he says when he first walked into
criminal justice 101 class and felt
accepted and made some new and good
friends to help him through tough times. When we did the mock trial that was fun
and exciting and a moment he'll never
forget because it showed him how it is
to be in a courtroom. 
Shiann Federau says
taking pride on how far you have come
and having faith and how far you can go.
Andrez Flores says his favorite memory
was the trip to the Ulster County Jail.
He remembers the prisoners just looking
at us and could just see that he was
telling them to not end up there.
Brianna Gonzales says is her favorite memory
was sitting in the classroom and talking
his family about everything we enjoy.
Congratulations Amy! Shamar Hamilton says his favorite memory is when the class
comes together and finds a solution. Meave Kennedy says her favorite
memory was investigating both mock crime
scenes. Steve Kollbeck says his favorite memory
was performing a mock crime scene.
Michaela Liewa says my favorite memory
of the career in Tech Center was seeing
all the warm and welcoming teachers
every morning as well as being in a
diverse setting with then becoming best
friends throughout her experience.
Ryan North Congratulations!
Way to go Omarion Payton! Kaylee Reese's
favorite memory says all of the classes
inside jokes together! Miss Russell's
favorite memory was enjoying the field
trip to the jail. Juliahnna Stephens
favorite memories was attending the
criminal justice program and getting to learn
a new way of learning with new people.
Benjamin Swart's
favorite memory was when
Mr. Young wasn't allowed to tell any
more jokes. And Ms. Taboada's favorite
memory was meeting new people from
different schools.
Alisa Thiel says becoming close with new
people from other districts in less than
two years of BOCES through our common
interest in our criminal justice was her
favorite memory, Caden Torgerson favorite
memory was watching
his classmates grow as a class together.
And my favorite memory was every Friday
was physical training and every Friday I
realized how much more every single
person in the program was family to me,
even the juniors.
Congratulations Eli White and
congratulations to my fellow graduates
of 2020. Before I introduce our final
speakers the valedictorian, the principal
and the assistant principal, I would like
to thank you all for attending today's
tribute and now some final words from
our esteemed 2020 valedictorian
electrical construction and maintenance
program graduate
Andrew Westervelt. In the words of Mr.
Jones Andrew's teacher he was truly a
special all-around person who is always
kind thoughtful and selfless. Andrew's
confidence and his abilities in
electrical in industry is awe-inspiring
and he's always striving to increase his
knowledge.
Mr. Jones says Andrews leadership skills
are exceptional and have earned him the
respect of his classmates. After
graduation
Andrew will begin an apprenticeship on
his journey to becoming an electrician. I
give you Andrew Westervelt! Hi my name
is Andrew Westervelt and I'm the
valedictorian here Ulster BOCES. I'm a
graduating senior at Kingston high
school and I'm currently enrolled in the
electrical construction program here at
BOCES. I wanted to say congratulations to
all you for making it this far in
graduating. Graduation is the thing that
should not be taken lightly. Although we
are graduating through a global pandemic
we should not let this crisis overshadow
all the hard work we've put in to make
it this far and reach our goal. Let us
not forget all the times we had here at
BOCES good or bad because it is through
these times that we grow as people. All
the hard tests we had, all the new skills
we've acquired, all the times we were
bored in class, all the times we were
annoyed with teachers for telling us to
take out our ear buds and take off our
hats, all the people we met from
different paths of life and all the
friends we made. Through these times and
experiences we've grown as people and we
will continue to grow by remembering
these experiences. Through my time here
at BOCES I've learned that despite all
of our differences we can
come together through common interests
because we are a team. We've made it this
far and we'll show the world who we are
through the skills we've acquired here.
Again congratulations to all of you in
completing this chapter of your life we
don't know what the future holds but we
knew that through the skills that we've
acquired, we can navigate the journey
ahead! Best of luck to all of you thank
you and congratulations to the class of
2020. Congratulations 2020 students and
families I'm in Amy Storenski principal at
the Career Technical Center and I'm Rob
Knuschke, assistant principal. Thank you
so much for including us in your
celebration. We are so very proud of you
for not just completing your tag program
but completing it during this very
difficult time. All of you have had to
change the way you work and learn over
the past three months
at your home high school and here at the
career in tech center. That's quite an
accomplishment. This group came to
career-tech from eight different schools
and you worked together to learn skills
that will put you on a path for success
no matter where your path takes you.
Today we celebrate your accomplishments
while we wish we could enjoy all of our
traditional high school completion
ceremonies we appreciate the opportunity
to pay tribute to you from afar as a
sign of respect and admiration for all
you have accomplished. Over the past two
years we've watched you with amazement
as you have grown into the young
professionals you are today and we are
watching now with great anticipation to
see what you do next.
Well the path ahead feels more insert and
than ever one thing remains which is
hope. Hope anchors the soul it can
prevent us from drifting it helps us
remain optimistic during the storm
knowing the Sun will shine again. Emily
Dickinson said hope is the thing with
feathers that perches in the soul and
sings the tune without the words and
never stops at all. So class of 2020 go
forward with hope! Let it be your
permanent anchor. Thank you Mrs. Storenski and Mr. Knuschke. As we finish tonight's
celebration, please enjoy this
photographic tour memories of our time
here at Ulster BOCES. Thank you for joining us congratulations
everyone!
 
