{"id":2065883,"date":"2023-10-13T04:38:02","date_gmt":"2023-10-13T08:38:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/orange-county-chamber-of-commerce-event-spotlights-alternative-education\/"},"modified":"2023-10-13T04:49:18","modified_gmt":"2023-10-13T08:49:18","slug":"orange-county-chamber-of-commerce-event-spotlights-alternative-education","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/orange-county-chamber-of-commerce-event-spotlights-alternative-education\/","title":{"rendered":"Chamber of Commerce event highlights alternative education in Orange County."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Forange-county-chamber-of-commerce-event-spotlights-alternative-education%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2065883&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><blockquote>\n<h2>A Panel Discussion on Alternative Education Opportunities<\/h2>\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/da-braggs-colleagues-brag-about-dismantling-criminal-justice-system\/\" title=\"DA Bragg's Colleagues Brag About \"Dismantling Criminal Justice System\"\">panel discussion hosted<\/a> by the Orange County\u2064 Chamber of Commerce highlighted alternative education opportunities\u2064 outside traditional college\u200c tracks on Oct. 12.<\/p>\n<p>West Point Director of Admissions Rance\u2063 Lee said that\u2064 for\u200c those not yet ready for college,\u200d enlisting in the military was \u200da good alternative to pick up valuable skills\u200c while figuring \u2063out the\u200d future, with some eventually moving on \u2063to higher education with tuition benefits.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou cannot do what is right \u200bfor mom, dad, brother, sister, or mentor. You got to\u200c do \u2064what\u2019s right for you,\u201d he \u2063said. \u201cIf the right \u200cchoice for you is \u2062college, then \u2063absolutely you should go for college. \u2063If you are not\u2062 ready, there are a lot \u2064of other paths.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h3>Related Stories<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/vacated-old-otisville-school-nears-reopening-as-new-community-center-5504059?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><strong>Vacated Old Otisville School \u2063Nears Reopening as New \u200cCommunity Center<\/strong><\/a>  &#8211; \u200d10\/4\/2023<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/global-medical-symposium-spotlights-new-beauty-concepts-in-middletown-5501897?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><strong>Global Medical Symposium Spotlights New Beauty Concepts in Middletown<\/strong><\/a>  &#8211; 10\/2\/2023<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>He also shared advice on how to get into \u200bthe <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/exclusive-navy-established-group-to-develop-inclusive-artwork-for-naval-offices\/\" title=\"Exclusive: Navy Established Group To Develop \u2018Inclusive\u2019 Artwork For Naval Offices\">prestigious military academy<\/a>, and one\u200b tip is not \u2062to give\u200d up, as almost a third of West Point classes were admitted\u2063 on their second \u2063or third try.<\/p>\n<p>Executive director of\u2064 Construction Contractors of the Hudson Valley Alan Seidman said that apprenticeships \u200ccould lead \u2063to\u200b careers with good pay, benefits, and retirement security, but what often works against such programs is\u200b the prevailing societal thought of putting college above all.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNot every child should be going to \u200ccollege,\u2064 and\u200b there\u2064 are great opportunities out \u200dthere for both men and women who do not,\u201d Mr. Seidman said at the event.<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Trever McGinley, the owner of\u200c Blue Aesthetics \u2063Med \u200dSpa, said that the beauty industry offered an array \u200dof opportunities for those who wanted to get early hands-on experience after high school.<\/p>\n<p>Common positions include laser technician, phlebotomist, and \u200bmedical esthetician, which only requires attending a specialty school\u200b or obtaining a certificate.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe great\u2062 thing about these is that \u200cthey allow you to come into\u200d an organization or a business \u2064and have direct \u2064hands-on patient care, and through that, there is a significant amount of success and satisfaction,\u201d \u2063he said, adding that \u200csome eventually\u200b move on to become nurse practitioners or even\u200c doctors.<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-figure\">\n<figure style=\"width:600px\" class=\"aligncenter\"><figcaption>Attendees listened during \u2062a \u200cpanel discussion on alternative education hosted by the Orange County Chamber of Commerce in Otisville, N.Y., on Oct. 12, 2023. (Cara Ding\/The Epoch Times)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Jhack Sepulveda, executive director of FoodTEC at the \u200dNewburgh\u200c campus of SUNY Orange, introduced the program\u2019s free to low-cost training that helps \u2064people get <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-urge-biden-to-extend-pause-on-student-loan-payments\/\" title=\"Democrats urge Biden to extend pause on student loan payments\">entry-level jobs<\/a>\u200c in the beverage and hospitality industry, \u200bsuch as cooks, line cooks, and servers.<\/p>\n<p>The program\u200d is planned to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/orange-county-chamber-of-commerce-event-spotlights-alternative-education\/\" title=\"Chamber of Commerce event highlights alternative education in Orange County.\">add \u200dfood \u200bindustry certificate training<\/a> in the\u2064 future, which will help people move on from entry-level jobs to advanced positions, he said.<\/p>\n<p>Thomas \u200bBudington, a financial consultant with Equitable Advisors, stressed \u2063the importance of\u2064 having alternative education investment plans other than \u200dthe \u200btraditional 529 \u2063college savings accounts\u2062 to \u200ccover trade school expenses.<\/p>\n<p>Orange-Ulster BOCES\u200c Deputy Superintendent Kerri Stroka, moderator of the panel discussion, told The Epoch \u2063Times that \u200ccareer\u2064 and technical programs at her institution help \u200bstudents get\u200c a \u200dtaste of trade jobs before graduating high \u2063school.<\/p>\n<p>She said about 2,000 high schoolers in the\u2063 region attend such programs at Orange-Ulster BOCES \u2064(Board of Cooperative Educational Services), with construction trades, health-related careers,\u2063 and culinary training being their top \u2064three choices.<\/p>\n<p>Orange County Chamber of Commerce President Heather \u200cBell-Meyer told \u2064The Epoch Times that a chamber \u200dmember suggested the alternative education topic\u200d last year, and her team took time to build upon it and make it into the panel discussion today.<\/p>\n<p>The topic was\u200b personal to her, too, she said, as \u200dboth her\u200c sons joined the \u200bMarine Corps\u2062 before entering professional careers \u2064in\u200c advanced machinery and law enforcement.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThese were what we\u2062 thought could \u200ddeliver to our membership and beyond as avenues other than college education that could result in a successful\u200b career,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>The panel discussion was\u200d hosted at Cornell Cooperative Extension\u2019s education center in \u200bOtisville, New York.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> What were some of the alternative education opportunities discussed in the panel \u200ddiscussion?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  2. \u200d(Photo: Blue Aesthetics)<\/p>\n<p>The\u200b panel discussion aimed to shed light on the\u2064 various\u200c alternative education opportunities available to individuals who may not be\u2062 inclined towards\u2063 a traditional college education. By presenting options such as military enlistment, apprenticeships, \u200cand vocational\u200b training in\u2062 industries like beauty, the event sought to emphasize that there are \u200dalternative paths \u2063to \u200csuccess.<\/p>\n<p>Rance Lee, the Director of Admissions \u200bat West Point, emphasized \u200cthe importance of making choices \u200cthat resonate with one&#8217;s own aspirations\u200d and goals. He\u200d pointed out that enlisting in the military can offer valuable skills and personal development for those who may\u2062 not be ready for college yet. Lee highlighted \u2064that many military veterans later pursue higher education utilizing their \u2063military\u200b tuition\u2062 benefits.<\/p>\n<p>Alan Seidman, the Executive Director of the Construction Contractors of the Hudson Valley, discussed the benefits of apprenticeships. He emphasized \u2063that these programs can lead to rewarding careers with good pay, benefits, and retirement security. However, Seidman acknowledged that societal\u200b pressure \u200bto\u2064 prioritize college often discourages potential candidates from exploring apprenticeship opportunities.<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Trever McGinley, owner of Blue Aesthetics Med \u2064Spa, shed light on the diverse career opportunities available in the beauty industry. He mentioned positions such as laser technician, phlebotomist, and medical \u200cesthetician, which\u2064 can be obtained through attending specialty schools or obtaining certifications. Dr. McGinley also highlighted how individuals can progress\u200b in their careers within the beauty industry, eventually pursuing roles as nurse practitioners or even doctors.<\/p>\n<p>The panel\u2063 discussion encouraged attendees to consider the diverse range of alternative education paths available to them. It emphasized that\u2063 these opportunities can provide hands-on experience, personal \u2063satisfaction, and \u2064<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/united-airlines-to-announce-order-for-110-airbus-boeing-jets-sources\/\" title=\"United Airlines set to purchase 110 Airbus and Boeing jets, according to sources.\">long-term \u200bsuccess<\/a>. By showcasing the variety of choices beyond traditional college tracks, the event aimed to empower individuals to pursue\u200d education and careers that align with their strengths and passions.<\/p>\n<p>In a society that often places immense value\u200b on a college degree as the sole marker \u2062of success, this panel \u2063discussion \u2063offered an important reminder \u200dthat alternative \u2064education opportunities can be equally \u2063valuable and rewarding.\u2063 It emphasized\u2064 the \u2064importance\u2063 of individual\u200d choice, personal growth, and the pursuit \u2062of one&#8217;s own unique path to success.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Orange County Chamber of Commerce recently held a panel discussion emphasizing non-traditional education options. Rance Lee, West Point&#8217;s Director of Admissions, suggested that joining the military could be a beneficial alternative for individuals not yet prepared for college. This allows them to acquire valuable skills while contemplating their future.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":417,"featured_media":2065884,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2065883","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2065883","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/417"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2065883"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2065883\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2065884"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2065883"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2065883"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2065883"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}