Page 31 - New York Statewide Smart Scholars Overview and Profiles

Clean Technologies and Sustainable Industries Early College High School Program

Located at the center of the Capital District seven county economic development region in the LEED Platinum
TEC-SMART Facility of Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC) in the New York State Energy Research
and Development Authority’s Saratoga Technology + Energy Park® (STEP®) in Malta, NY, and in close
proximity to the GLOBAL FOUNDRIES Chip Fab, the Clean Technologies & Sustainable Industries ECHS is
preparing the workforce of tomorrow. The program represents a robust fusion of education, business and
industry collaborating to train students for the jobs of tomorrow. Since the launch of the ECHS, as part of the
NYS Smart Scholars Cohort 2, 100 percent of the students have graduated and have chosen to either go on in
college or enter the military. The students are seeing success.

The Clean Technologies & Sustainable Industries ECHS leverages a 1:1 computing environment,
transdisciplinary learning and authentic problem based learning to engage students and to prepare them for both
college and the workplace. Through Mastery Assignments students develop collaboration, creativity, and
innovation skills as they create solutions to problems currently being faced by their communities. “Originally,
I chose Clean Tech for the college classes. However, now that I’ve been here for a year, the high school classes
are what I find most valuable. The group projects have taught me skills that I doubt I would have learned in a
regular classroom, specifically time management, communication, and responsibility.” shared Jesalyn Claeys.

In addition to taking college classes at the HVCC satellite campus with college faculty, students in the program
have participated in field trips to higher education institutions including the HVCC main campus and the
College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering. Representatives from Siena College’s Admissions Office have
visited the program and shared information.

Key events for the Clean Technologies & Sustainable Industries ECHS program include College Instant
Admission Days, financial literacy programs with Cap Com Federal Credit Union, presentations from business
and industry leaders, and job shadows and field experiences for students in their chosen career pathway. Three
times a year, students have the opportunity to showcase their work at an Expo. During the Expos students have
the opportunity to interact with representatives from business, industry, and higher education as well as the
media and elected officials.

One of the first graduates of the program began without any goals or plans for the future. He did not plan to
attend college. After learning about wind energy and photovoltaic systems through the program he applied to
college, successfully completed an Associate’s degree, and has begun working towards a second Associates
degree. His parents continue to remark how much the program changed the evening dinner conversation in
their household with their son sharing his excitement about the work he is engaged in. Many of the students in
the program talk about the confidence they have gained by participating in the program. Ana Mertzluft, a 2014
graduate of the Clean Technologies & Sustainable Industries ECHS, stated, “Already having a college transcript
made applying for the next step much less stressful than if I had not gotten to be a part of our Early College
High School. A college transcript is tangible proof that I am a capable student who, even in my high school
years, made education my top priority. She also added, “I know exactly what to expect from college classes,
and cannot wait to go.” Sarah Meisel, a member of the class of 2015, shared “Being part of this program give
me confidence that when I get into college, I know I will be able to make it through.”

Additional information, photos, and examples of student work can be found at
http://www.bscsd.org/cleanTech.cfm?subpage=14383

Ballston Spa Central School District – 70 Malta Avenue – Ballston Spa, NY 12020 – 518.884.7195 – www.bscsd.org