From Student to Difference Maker: Michael Georgi’s Journey at Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES

Some careers begin with a carefully mapped-out plan. Others begin with curiosity, an opportunity, and a willingness to see where the journey leads.

For Michael Georgi, that journey began long before he knew it would become a career in technology.

Michael has been part of the Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES community for five years, first as a student and later as a student employee, student board member, and now as a Computer Technician. Along the way, BOCES provided opportunities, mentors, and experiences that helped shape his future and ultimately brought him back to the organization that played such an important role in his life.

A Love of Technology Begins at Home

Michael’s interest in technology began when he was very young, inspired by his father, Jared Georgi.

His father previously worked at Crucible as an IT Intern before joining Auburn Police Department  serving the local community for 20 years, before retiring in 2019. Michael remembers being fascinated by computers from an early age. A photograph of Michael with his father when he was just three or four years old captures one of those early moments: Michael learning from the person who first sparked his curiosity about technology.

There was no elaborate plan behind that curiosity. Michael simply wanted to understand how things worked.

He remembers tinkering with floppy drives and experimenting with other old technology from a young age. He would visit thrift stores to find old electronics, take them apart, understand how they worked, and try to put them back together.

That curiosity eventually became something much more.

“I never realized I would make a career out of this,” Michael said. “It just evolved into it.”

Finding His Direction at BOCES

When Michael reached high school, he still did not have a specific career goal in mind. He explored opportunities as they came and eventually found himself in a BOCES Career and Technical Education program in Computer Systems and Network Administration (CSNA).

That decision became a turning point.

Michael discovered that he genuinely enjoyed working with technology and had a lot of fun in the IT environment at BOCES. His experience in CSNA, combined with the people he met along the way, helped establish the foundation for what would become his career.

One of those important connections was Charlie Patterson, a fellow student in CSNA who became close friends with Michael and soon joined the Information Technology department alongside Michael as a student worker, taking on many projects throughout BOCES.

What began with a CTE class eventually led to Michael working with the BOCES technology team during the school year and into the summer.

For Michael, those experiences were more than simply a job. They gave him an opportunity to learn, build confidence, develop professional skills, and see what a future in technology could look like.

Taking Opportunities as They Came

Looking back, Michael says he did not begin his journey with a specific goal or a five-year plan.

Instead, he focused on doing the best he could with the opportunities in front of him.

Michael said, “Then things fell into place from there. “I showed up every day with the same goal in mind, to win the day. Even when things get busy or tough, you put your best foot forward and work as a team to get the job done.”

He also describes his approach to expectations in a way that reflects his personality and work ethic.

“The expectation was never to be the best, but to be the best for myself and the community.”

That mindset has followed him throughout his journey.

Those who have worked with Michael describe him as resilient, understanding, and mature. His willingness to learn, his passion for technology, and his desire to make a difference have made an impression on students, colleagues, and staff throughout BOCES.

From Student Worker to Student Leader

Michael’s connection to BOCES continued to grow after high school.

In July 2023, he returned as a student worker for the BOCES STEM Camp, helping students participate in STEAM-related activities and supporting them throughout the camp experience.

In 2024, Michael became a student worker with Instructional Support Services, working alongside on-site technicians to provide technical support, respond to technology requests, and assist with BOCES events and operations.

The experience gave Michael an opportunity to move from being a student who was learning about technology to someone helping others use it.

During the 2024-2025 school year, Michael, in conjunction with his studies in CSNA, went on to compete in SkillsUSA for Information Technology Services. Michael placed first in that year's NYS SkillsUSA ITS competition, going on to compete and network with like-minded peers nationally in Atlanta, Georgia.

During the 2025–2026 school year, Michael also served as a Student Board Member, bringing the student perspective to the BOCES Board of Education as a non-voting advisor and laying the groundwork for future students serving on the board of education.

Each experience added another layer to his development, not only as a technology professional but as someone invested in the BOCES community.

Building a Future in Technology

Michael will be continuing his education in Information Technology, with a focus on Networking, he will continue developing the skills needed to pursue opportunities in the technology industry.

His philosophy remains simple. “It’s about how you approach things.”

He believes in continuing to build his skills, remaining open to opportunities, and not becoming overly focused on having every detail of the future figured out.

“Keep the future vague,” he says. For Michael, that does not mean lacking direction. Instead, it means remaining open to learning and allowing new opportunities to shape the path ahead.

Coming Full Circle

On July 29, 2026, Michael officially began a new chapter at Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES as a Computer Technician.

Today, he is responsible for installing, testing, repairing, and maintaining computer systems and network infrastructure throughout BOCES and its affiliated programs. He provides frontline technology support to instructional and support staff, assists with hardware and software upgrades, troubleshoots computers and peripherals, and supports educational technology, including Smart Boards, iPads, and Chromebooks.

He is also responsible for maintaining service records and technology inventory, helping ensure that the systems BOCES relies upon each day continue to support its mission to unleash potential in the community.

But Michael’s return means more than simply starting a new position.

He is returning to the place that helped him discover what he was capable of achieving.

He came to BOCES as a student with a curiosity about technology. He learned from instructors, mentors, colleagues, and members of the technology department. He gained experience, developed his skills, pursued higher education, and eventually found his way back to Auburn as a professional.

For Michael, that sense of coming full circle is important.

“Giving back to the community” is one of the values that continues to guide him.

He recognizes that the opportunities and people he encountered along the way helped him become the person and professional he is today.

“Without that, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

Now, he has the opportunity to give back to the next generation.

A Difference Maker

Michael’s story is a powerful example of what Career and Technical Education (CTE) and meaningful workplace experiences can provide.

He did not enter BOCES knowing exactly where he would end up. He followed his curiosity, accepted opportunities, worked hard, learned from others, and continued building his skills.

Along the way, he became a difference maker himself.

From the young student taking apart old technology simply to understand how it worked, to the CTE student discovering a passion for IT, to the student employee supporting BOCES operations, to the student board member representing the student voice, Michael’s journey has been shaped by a willingness to learn and a commitment to doing his best.

Today, he is helping others navigate the same technology that first captured his imagination as a child.

And perhaps most importantly, he is giving back to the community that helped him find his way.

Beyond Technology

When he is not working with technology, Michael enjoys many outdoor activities, including hiking, camping, and biking.He also enjoys spending time in the woods with his camera, combining his love of photography with his appreciation for the outdoors.

Whether he is behind a computer, helping a colleague solve a technology problem, supporting students, or exploring the outdoors, Michael continues to approach each opportunity with the same curiosity that started it all.

His journey is a reminder that sometimes the most meaningful careers are not the ones we plan from the beginning.

Sometimes, they evolve.

And sometimes, the place that helps you discover your potential becomes the place where you eventually return to help someone else discover theirs.

Maybe you, too, can start your journey here! Learn more about the opportunities available through: 

Career and Technical Education 
Compass 
Special Education 

To celebrate Michael’s accomplishments, view photos here.