AEC is graduating 67 seniors throughout eight programs from four different school districts: Saranac Lake, Lake Placid, Tupper Lake and Long Lake. Each course of study was granted its own graduation ceremony. Five of the programs celebrated on Monday, and the remaining three celebrated on Tuesday.

The decision to have separate ceremonies was made last year as the graduation had to abide by social distancing guidelines. This created a more personal ceremony that received positive feedback, so it was implemented this year as well.

AEC’s specific programs are made for those looking for a hands-on learning experience in a specific field. It’s part of New York’s Board of Cooperative Educational Services program, run locally by the Franklin-Essex-Hamilton BOCES district.

“What’s special about BOCES is that we do more hands-on learning and get to things that we will do in everyday life,” said automotive graduate George Farrell.

Bruce Page (left) demonstrates equipment as George Farrell (right) shows a motor that the class uses to understand the parts within during the demonstration portion of graduation. (Enterprise photo — Quinlan Peer)

In Farrell’s class, each day students do about a half-hour of lectures before entering the shop for the rest of the morning. In the afternoon they go back to their respective schools.

This hands-on learning leads to rare opportunities. The students of the Automotive Technology class each received a two-year certificate during graduation that qualifies them for an entry-level job in a garage or at a dealership.

The coronavirus pandemic, however, made the school go online last year, which is not ideal for those doing hands-on learning. Those who decided to stick through the program as it was online got to see an almost fully normal senior year.

Parents of the graduates were able to experience this hands-on learning during the graduation ceremony. After the formal ceremony, students were able to show off their classroom and demonstrate the different parts of the class.

“I’m impressed with the dedication and courage of these students,” said Principal Rick Swanston during his address. “They would get out of bed and work from home, which some adults struggle with.”

Wyatt Martin receives his certificate for Natural Resource Science on Monday. (Provided photo — Jess Collier)

Assistant Superintendent Lori Tourville gave the welcome speech for all ceremonies using a message of “Work hard and be kind.” The formal ceremonies for each program were kept short as the school wanted to leave time for the demonstration period.

Working hard is something that some of the students are used to, as the school sets up work-study opportunities for the students to work in the real world for about five and a half weeks.

This hard work will transfer to the outside of AEC as some students will enter the workforce, some will join the military, some will go to either a trade school or college.

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Class of 2021

Health Occupation students stand for the pledge of allegiance on Monday. (Provided photo — Jess Collier)

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Automotive Technology: Reese Bolia (TL), Blake Callaghan (SL), Riley DeAngelis (SL), George Farrell (SL), Ryley Hill (TL), Dylan McCauley (SL), Tyler Miller (SL), Parker Oberg (LP), Brody Savage (TL) and Dominic Whitson (SL).

Building Trades: Andrew Arsenault (LL), Evan Cassell (TL), Bryce Dattoma (TL), Preston Duval (TL), Adam Ellithorpe (SL), Isaiah Gallagher (TL), Tanner Lanthier (TL), Steven Snyder (SL).

Cosmetology: Lily Beaney (LP), Amber Boudreau (TL), Autumn Fravor (SL), Hailee Garvey (TL), Edith Hathaway (LP), Elizabeth Howe (LP), Kaitlynn O’Connor (LP), Selestia Ordway (LP), Kylin Strader (TL), Anastacia Varner (TL).

Culinary Arts: Elyssa Ezumah (SL), Gabe Jones (SL), Raven Preston (LP), Rilley Wells (TL).

New Vision Health Care Exploration students listen to Principal Rick Swanston give the senior address Tuesday. (Provided photo — Jess Collier)

Health Occupations: Jacey Burns (LP), Samantha Clark (LP), Alexis Johnson (SL), Monica Kennedy (TL), Jessica Mitchell (TL), Carly Savage (TL), Helena Tallman (SL).

Natural Resource Science: Logan Branch (SL), Warren Clark (LP), Samual Donaldson (SL), Jay Gagnon (TL), Cooper Grady (LP), Joseph Herzog (LP), Schyler Jordon (LP), Jack Lawrence (LP), Patrick Manning (LP), Wyatt Martin (SL), Connor McMinn (SL), Isabella Rust (TL), Taylor Samburgh (SL).

New Vision Game Design and Development: Lea O’Brien and Albert Bruso (SL).

New Vision Health Care: Isabella Armstrong (LP), John Brownell (LP), Colter Cheney-Seymour (SL), Andrew Fogarty (SL), Peter Fogarty (SL), Kailey Kipping (SL), Bryson Mariano (SL), Abigail Martelle (SL), Rylee Preston (LP), Alexis Staves (TL), Natalie Tavares (LP), Raechel Villani (SL).

Adirondack Educational Center principal Rick Swanston gives the senior class address on Tuesday. (Enterprise photo — Quinlan Peer)