Lidia Velasquez, a Hempstead High School student and resident splits her time at the Nassau BOCES Joseph M. Barry Career & Technical Education Center and she will be honored at the 19th annual Nassau BOCES Education Partner Award Gala on April 22.
The Nassau County BOCES Educational Foundation will host the gala, a independent, non-profit school community based organization. The Hempstead students, with 14 others including three organizations, have in some way impacted public education in Nassau County.
Velasquez has a busy schedule as she takes vocational or specialized courses. In her case, she studies medical assisting. And at the same time she volunteers in hospitals as well.
“I knew I always wanted to do something with kids,” she said. “I knew I wanted to be a pediatrician around probably seventh grade, I take every opportunity I can to do anything medical related or science.”
She also helps BOCES in other ways, such as being a Nassau BOCES Ex-Officio Student Board of Education Member. She is one of four with this title. Other students are; Angelina Castro-Boutin, Olivia Lawrence and Christian Maguire.
“Student’s were chosen by the principals,” said Shawn Lisa Torres, supervisor of the Department of Regional Schools and Instructional Programs. “They were given candidates and then were interviewed to find the best candidate.
On her spare time Velasquez will volunteer at NYU Winthrop and at Nassau University Medical Center. Through Barry Tech she was able to get the volunteering clinical hours she needs to gain experience, including connecting with others. And she credits that only through the thanks of BOCES.
“Barry Tech has changed me as a student because I’m able to get experience that I probably would have not got if I never came to BOCES,” Velasquez reflected.
Her time in education doesn’t end there, she is the current president and former vice president from last year with SkillsUSA, a service organization specifically for students who are taking career technical educational programs.
“It’s another form of student government and it definitely helped me with my skills, especially with the help of my advisors,” she added. “We also do competitions, my skills have improved, especially my communication skills.”
The organization uses competitions as a central method of developing, showcasing and evaluating student’ technical and leadership skills. As for skill development, the competition is structured around real world standards or expectation to learn practical skills.
“I think Lydia is amazing, just like all of her ex-official members,” Torres said. “It’s just really nice to see a student who maintained her grades, maintained her enthusiasm and always want to do more.”
