Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES

Vincent Ragusa, a student in the Applied Electrical Technology program at Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES, is practicing skills in his trade while earning a paycheck. That opportunity is made possible through the Work-Based Learning program at BOCES.

Ragusa is currently in a paid internship role with Doug’s Electric, based in Camillus, NY. The company is operated by long-time employee Tom Leo and provides various electrical services, including wiring custom homes, upgrading electrical services, installing residential car chargers, and general residential service work.

While this is the first year Doug’s Electric has taken on a BOCES student for a paid internship, Leo said Ragusa has been a great fit, learning along the way and bringing new ideas and spirit to the workplace.

“He asks good questions, and some of them I do not necessarily know the answers to off-hand,” Leo said. “Sometimes, I learn things from him.”

That hands-on experience has helped Ragusa grow personally and professionally. He has gained new skills and appreciates the learning that takes place outside of the classroom.

“I get time out of the classroom to practice skills that will someday be useful to my profession and I am getting paid,” he said. “It’s also given me the ability to problem solve efficiently and market myself.”

Because of that experience, Ragusa recommends other students participate in a Work-Based Learning internship or placement. He noted that these opportunities allow students to further develop skills that may not be possible in the classroom.

Beyond the benefits to students, Leo sees internships as critical to the future of the industry.

“For every three people that retire, only one new person is going into the trades, and that is across the board,” Leo said. “This is the next generation coming in. If we don’t step up and take part in developing new tradespeople, our industry and this country will be in trouble.”

To learn more about the Work-Based Learning program at Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES, please contact Kayla Hurley at khurley@cayboces.org or at (315) 255-7642.