Local GST BOCES student honored

Albany, N.Y., March 10—State Senator Tom O’Mara (R-C, Big Flats) and State Assemblyman Christopher Friend (R-C, Big Flats) congratulated Joseph Barr of Montour Falls, who was among 20 adult education students from across New York State honored on Wednesday, March 9 by the New York Association for Continuing/Community Education (NYACCE).

The organization’s 28th Annual Awards Ceremony and Legislative Forum was on Wednesday in Albany.  Barr, representing the Greater Southern Tier (GST) BOCES, received a “Student of the Year 2011” award from the association.

[In the photo above, from left to right, are: Robin DeLong, GST BOCES Community Education Specialist, Assemblyman Friend, Joseph Barr, and Senator O’Mara.]

“It’s a tribute to Joseph’s outstanding commitment to the value of education, as well as to his hard work and perseverance,” O’Mara and Friend said in a joint statement.  “Joseph Barr represents the will to succeed, to never give up and, in his own words, to ‘tough it out.’  He’s a great source of pride to the administration and staff of the Greater Southern Tier BOCES."    

The NYACCE is the professional organization representing adult education professionals from across the state. 

The chair of this year’s event, Susan Diemert of NYACCE, said, “Each is an outstanding representative of thousands of adult students who benefit from adult education and training programs in New York State.  Worthy nominations from throughout New York State were received from programs offering lifelong learning opportunities to adults.”

Barr received his GED from the GST BOCES in December 2009 and subsequently enrolled in the school’s welding program.  He’s currently employed full-time locally as a sheet metal worker.  

He was nominated for the NYACCE award by Kate Buckley of the GST BOCES.