Sawyer Braley holds his check

Photo and release courtesy of Orleans/Niagara BOCES

Sawyer Braley, a senior from Albion High School, has received the AWS (American Welding Society) Niagara Frontier Scholarship for the amount of $3,000.  Sawyer is a student at the Orleans/Niagara BOCES’ Orleans Career and Technical Education Center (OCTEC) and is taught by Ron Jackson and Adam Zerby.  He will be using his scholarship to continue his education at the Kentucky Welding Institute in Flemingsburg, Kentucky.

 “It’s so exciting to get this scholarship.  I plan on becoming a certified pipe welder and this money is really going to help me out with my tuition,” says Sawyer.  “I have just loved being in the Welding program here at BOCES.  It has been great getting a hands-on education and I can’t thank Mr. Jackson and Mr. Zerby enough for helping me out and teaching me what I know.”  His teachers could not be prouder of Sawyer.  “He is a phenomenal kid,” says Mr. Jackson.  “He is a hard worker, very likeable and makes us look good.”  Mr. Zerby says it makes him feel good to see Sawyer follow in his own career path of pipe welding.  “He is self-motivated and very career oriented.  He is a very impressive person and I am sure in five years’ time, he will be running his own company.”

 Joseph Schmidt, an Associate Professor and Coordinator of Welding at Niagara County Community College (NCCC) and Steven Frey, a Welding Educator/Inspector at NCCC , were on the committee to determine the winner of the scholarship.  “We were very impressed with Sawyer’s commitment to welding, his great grades, his outside commitments to the Boy Scouts and giving back to his community,” says Mr. Schmidt.  “Not to mention he won our Weld-Off and took third place at the New York State SkillsUSA competition.  He is just an outstanding student.”

Photo Caption (LtoR) Joseph Schmidt (Associate Professor/Coordinator Welding at NCCC), Steven Frey (Welding Educator/Inspector), Sawyer Braley, Adam Zerby (OCTEC Welding Teacher) and Ron Jackson (OCTEC Welding Teacher)