CVA grads come back to share life after high school

CVA alumni (front row) Ben Girard, Marlee Holleran, Alicia Ceneviva,
Emily Marhaver, (back row) Tyler Rhude, Quinn Worden, Adrianna Rice

On Monday, Dec. 16, seven Central Valley Academy graduates returned to their alma mater to share their post-high school experiences with current students.  The visit was arranged through the Herkimer BOCES School to Careers program.

The guest speakers each took the microphone, speaking for roughly 10 minutes to detail their education and career paths after graduating high school. Their journeys were varied: some followed a direct path, earning a college degree in their desired field, while others started in one direction and pivoted. Regardless of the route they traveled, they have all found success.

CVA Principal Dick Keeler thanked the seven graduates for returning and sharing their stories. He highlighted four takeaways that should guide current high school students as they consider their futures:

• Take advantage of opportunities. CVA offers college courses, NJROTC, revamped tech programs, and several medical science courses. Clubs and classes can open doors, shorten the time and expense of college, or introduce a student to a lucrative trade.
• Build your network. Take internships, join clubs, and build friendships. These connections lead to new opportunities and interests.
• Salary is not the only criterion. Consider the salary and benefits, but don’t overlook personal happiness.
• Be aware of your digital footprint. Comments and photos which seem funny today remain in the Cloud forever. Don't let a youthful mistake ruin your future chances in college or your career.

Recap of Presentations

Alicia Ceneviva '14: After CVA, Alicia attended Siena College, earning her bachelor's with a focus on Business Management and Human Resources. This broad major left her with various career paths. She interned as an event planner, interned at Disney (which she loved), and worked in various capacities at banks and credit unions. In 2020, she joined BHG Financial and is currently a Senior Portfolio Accountant, working remotely from her home in Georgia.

• Her advice: Take internships and work different jobs. Your experiences will help you find the career you really want.

Quinn Wooden '15: Quinn started at Herkimer College to take advantage of free tuition and transferable credits. Uncertain of his path, he finished his associate degree and took a gap year. He eventually earned a bachelor's in mechanical engineering from Clarkson University. After a startup co-op fell through because the company shut its doors, he moved through several roles before becoming an Installation Project Manager for GE Healthcare.

• His advice: Think hard about making a hobby into a career; sometimes the day-to-day grind can overshadow the fun. In college, be social and make friends; networking pays off. Finally, look for companies that pay for further education.

Marlee Holleran '16 :Marlee headed to Marywood University with a clear mission in the medical field. To avoid being in school until she was 32, she chose an intense five-year master's program in Physician Assistant Studies. She is now a traveling Physician Assistant for WellNow Urgent Care. Her schedule gives her the freedom to pursue other interests.

• Her advice: Put yourself out there, both in studies and personal activities. Choose a field that allows you to pay off your debt.

Ben Girard '17: The class valedictorian was torn between medicine and environmental engineering. Through a BOCES job-shadowing program, he interned at Little Falls Hospital and discovered medicine wasn't for him. A subsequent internship at the Mohawk Water Authority confirmed his calling. He earned his degree from Clarkson University and is now a Sales Engineer for Koester Associates. Ironically, his former internship site, the Mohawk Water Authority, is now one of his clients.

• His advice: Decide what you want. Don't be afraid to travel; it exposes you to new things. Also, there is a massive demand for people in the trades.

Tyler Rhude ’17: Tyler used "College Now" courses to enter Siena College as a sophomore. Though he planned to be a construction lawyer, an internship shifted his interest to project management. He joined Gilbane Building Company and has worked on projects ranging from college nursing centers to the new Buffalo Bills stadium.

• His advice: Do something you are passionate about. Practice social media awareness—nine out of 10 applicants for internships he sees are declined because of their social media posts.

Adrianna Rice '18 :Adrianna wanted a career that allowed her to stay local in the Mohawk Valley. She enrolled in the SUNY Poly/St. Elizabeth's College of Nursing 1+2+1 program. After working through the staff shortages of COVID-19, she earned her way into Utica University's Nurse Practitioner program and will soon start as an NP in cardiology at MVHS.

• Her advice: Not everyone wants to move away. There are opportunities right here if you work for them.

Emily Marhaver '22: Emily grew up in Ilion surrounded by animals and pursued the Pre-Vet program at SUNY Cobleskill. She became heavily involved in the Dairy Cattle Club and dairy farm inspections. While her plans for veterinary college changed, the company where she interned offered her a full-time job upon her graduation this May.

• Her advice: Get involved and make friends. Take an internship; it opens doors.

School to Careers (STC) is a partnership developed by Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES among regional schools and businesses. Its goal is to connect students to local jobs through workshops, internships, and planning. Central Valley CSD works with STC to provide "Thunder" students the opportunity to find their future careers.