Rhinebeck High School senior Henry Cavanaugh is one of two BOCES students from the Hudson Valley to receive a $500 scholarship for the ACTEA Zone 4’s Thomas Olivo Leadership Award. Cavanaugh, a Culinary Arts and Restaurant Management student at Dutchess BOCES, will attend the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park.
“I love the class,” said Cavanaugh of his BOCES class. “It’s fun because I get to hang out with friends and cook.”
Cavanaugh will study applied food studies with a focus in culinary arts at the Culinary and hopes to spend some time studying in Japan.
“I’ve always wanted to go to Japan,” he said. “While you’re there, you’re working and getting experience in Japanese restaurants. Going to Japan seems like fun.”
Cavanaugh was the captain of the Dutchess BOCES team that placed second at the SkillsUSA Regional Culinary Quiz Bowl, and he also received ServSafe Food Handlers and Managers certifications.
Cavanaugh, who entered Rhinebeck schools as a high school freshman, has worked as a prep cook at Beekman Arms, line cook/caterer at Young Chefs Café and fry cook at Buns Burgers. He also operates a freelance cooking and caretaking business in his community, and concluded an internship at the Anderson Center for Autism.
“Cooking isn’t really my passion. My passion is to help people,” he said. “My goal is to travel the world as a global teacher of agriculture. I want to go places where they aren’t as able to get knowledge in farming and help them with food.”
The Association of Career and Technical Education Administrators (ACTEA) serves as the leading organization for Career and Technical Education (CTE) in New York State. Zone 4 includes Dutchess, Ulster, Rockland, Westchester, Sullivan and Orange counties.
Cavanaugh is one of two Thomas Oliva Leadership Award winners with Ulster BOCES’ Zane McCormick-Blaine, who attends Rondout Valley High School. The winners are chosen based on CTE accomplishments, leadership experience, community involvement, future goals and recommendations from educators and mentors.
“These students represent the very best of Career and Technical Education,” said Ulster BOCES Assistant Superintendent Peter Harris, who serves as ACTEA Zone 4 representative and president of New York State Association of Career and Technical Education.
“Through leadership, technical skill, innovation, and service to others, they demonstrate the powerful impact of CTE experiences in preparing young people for success in college, careers, and community leadership.”