Erie 1 BOCES Staffer’s Video Receives New York School Public Relations Association Award

Posted On Friday December 06, 2024
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Harmon Whipple, a Clarence High School senior, flies a kite during his Engineering Design and Development class in September 2023.

A video produced by Erie 1 BOCES’ Communications Service division received an award from the New York School Public Relations Association as a part of its 45th Annual Communications Contest.

The video, “#ClarenceProud Spotlight: Clarence High School Engineering/Technology Department,” received an Award of Excellence, the highest level of recognition in the contest. The video, commissioned by the Clarence Central School District, explains the lessons and experiences of students in the department at Clarence High School, which combines hands-on learning with STEM challenges through its coursework.

The classes are offered as the U.S. Department of Labor said there were nearly 10 million workers in STEM occupations. The department projected that total to grow by almost 11 percent by 2031, over two times faster than the total for all occupations.

“The jobs of tomorrow are constantly changing,” said technology teacher Jason Urbanek. “What we're preparing our students for here are jobs in industries, careers that are existing and emerging.”

The video was produced by Senior Public Relations Representative Gordon Block, who spoke with teachers, students and administrators to help create the video, as well as capturing photos and writing a companion article for the district’s website.

“It’s an honor to help school districts in western New York share their stories with the community, and the energy and support of students and staff at Clarence High School allowed this project to be its best,” Block said. “One of my favorite things in making projects like this is seeing alumni and families share their own experiences and memories, which says a lot about the positive impact that a school can have on the community.”

The New York School Public Relations Association said in its announcement of winners that more than 430 entries in multiple categories were evaluated for this year’s contest, with judging done by more than 50 communication professionals from around the country.

The award will be formally presented during the association’s 2025 Spring Conference.

The Clarence Central School District is one of 19 school districts that comprise Erie 1 Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES). Erie 1 BOCES supports school districts with comprehensive services to enhance the region’s educational environment. Together, the cooperative of schools continuously looks to the future to develop and evolve programs that align with the needs of students, school districts, and region.

Video and social media support are two of the wide range of services offered by Erie 1 BOCES Communication Services division to help school districts meet their public information needs. More information about the division can be found at e1b.org.