Jesse Tompkins Jr. admits he’s not a man of many words, but he delivered an inspiring speech as the Class of 2025 salutatorian at Dutchess BOCES’ Career and Technical Institute’s Recognition Ceremony at the Majed J. Nesheiwat Convention Center in Poughkeepsie June 12.
Tompkins was one of 14 Rhinebeck High School students to be recognized at the ceremony. CTI had 321 students in its Class of 2025.
In his speech, Tompkins shared his keys to success. The first came as a freshman when he regularly mowed his pastor’s lawn after his pastor needed knee surgery. Tompkins was being encouraged to play a sport by family and friends, and was unsure what to do.
“He told me that I should only do it if I truly wanted to,” Tompkins said.
Tompkins added his second key to success is he kept learning, something that set in during his construction class with teacher Thomas Skean, who shared with him different techniques of doing his work.
“Just remember that whatever you are doing, do it for yourself, and remember that we never stop learning, it’s only where we learn that changes,” he said.
Danielle Rocco was recognized for being a part of SkillsUSA and winning the SkillsUSA state nursing assistant title. The Rhinebeck High School student will be representing CTI and New York State at SkillsUSA Nationals in Atlanta June 23-27. She’s the first CTI nursing assistant student to reach nationals.
Rocco will study nursing at the University of Alabama.
“I loved the BOCES program,” she said. “I would recommend it to pretty much everybody. It’s given me such a good background for the future I have ahead of me.”
She added, “I’ve met so many people from other schools that I would not have met if I did not come to BOCES. They have such wonderful teachers.”
Noah Browne, named a CTI student of distinction in the 2024-2025 school year, also is a member of CTI’s SkillsUSA. The senior placed first in Advertising Design and second in T-Shirt Design at the SkillsUSA New York Area 4 Regional competition.
At CTI’s Senior Awards Day, Browne won the CTI SkillsUSA Leadership Excellence Award for outstanding leadership in CTI and SkillsUSA. The graphic design student also won the Thomas Ridalfo Leadership Award for his commitment and dedication to leadership, and the Student Achievement Award for outstanding achievement in graphics from State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.
Browne will attend SUNY New Paltz.
“It’s a little bittersweet because BOCES became a big part of my life, especially when you’re doing something you love,” he said. “I’m happy to be done with the high school experience, move on to my adult life and hopefully do this someday professionally.”
Edwin Davenport, high school principal, attended the CTI Recognition Ceremony.
“Every CTI recognition is awesome,” he said. “Our students work so hard to get to this point. We have so many students representing Rhinebeck and their families in this beautiful venue. It’s just a delight to watch them earn the accolades they so richly deserve for all their hard work.”
Here is the list of Rhinebeck students by trade with their future plans:
Graphic Arts and Design
Noah Browne – SUNY New Paltz
Cosmetology
Adriana Jones – Hudson Valley CC
Nursing Assistant
Danielle Rocco – University of Alabama
Security and Law
Johonna Canales – National Guard, SUNY Dutchess
Jackson Condes – Workforce
Electric
Ryan Phillips – University at Albany
Construction
Natalie Groelly – Workforce
Ryan Pinzel – SUNY Dutchess
Gaven Salerno – Workforce
Sean Satta – SUNY Potsdam
Jesse Tompkins Jr. – SUNY Alfred
Welding and Fabrication
Lucas-Henri Dupont – Workforce
Bennett Knoop – Workforce
Small Engine Technology
James Roush -- Workforce