— Photo by Mike McCagg of BOCES

Demetreus Stoddard of Guilderland works on a machine in the Capital Region BOCES Manufacturing & Machining Technology program at the Center for Advanced Technology at Mohonasen. “I chose the manufacturing program because I want to avoid college debt and you can get a good job in manufacturing,” Stoddard said. Students in the two-year program learn design and prototype skills as well as undertake the diagnostics necessary to manufacture a part. They also learn how to operate everything from drill presses to the 3D printers.