BOCES Programs in Westchester Lead to Alumni Success

Two alumni from BOCES programs in Westchester County share insight into their pathways to careers in 3D animation and medicine.

In Westchester, students at BOCES can explore various fields like health sciences, technology, and the arts. These programs emphasize hands-on learning, which alumni like Victoria Venturini and Maria Wenzel credit as a key factor in their career success. Learn more about their educational and workforce trajectories:

Victoria Venturini: Animation and the Arts

Victoria Venturini has always been passionate about animation. Today, she channels that passion into her role as a computer-generated asset artist at Falcon’s Creative Group.

Her journey began when she toured PNW BOCES, where the impressive artwork of current students convinced her that the animation and motion graphics program would provide her with the skills she needed to break into the industry.

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“I already had a passion for animation, and I saw the program as my gateway into that world,” says Venturini. “I was intimidated at first, but after seeing other students’ work displayed on the computers, I felt inspired. I realized I could create what I saw in front of me someday.”

After completing the PNW BOCES program, Venturini attended Westchester Community College to further develop her artistic skills before transferring to the School of Visual Arts, where she quickly exceled.

“I noticed I was ahead of my class because I was taught programs like Maya and After Effects at PNW BOCES,” says Venturini. “It helped me learn more complex topics such as texturing quickly.”

Victoria Venturini
Photo courtesy of Victoria Venturini

The BOCES program exposes students to the professional world of animation, motion graphics, and game design. They learn industry-standard tools and develop a portfolio that showcases their strengths.

“The skills I learned at PNW BOCES have really helped me out. I’m still using programs such as Maya,” says Venturini. “And their interview methods helped me land my role at Falcon’s.”

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In her current position, she is mainly responsible for modeling, UVing, texturing, and shading characters and environments. Her favorite part about the job is bringing new worlds and characters to life.

“If you’re interested in having a career in 3D animation, I highly recommend you take the PNW BOCES class,” says Venturini. “It taught me so many soft skills and programs I still use today. 3D art can be hard at first to understand, but with time it will come with ease. If you believe in yourself, your dreams will come true.”

Maria Wenzel: A Medical Pathway

Maria Wenzel’s parents recognized her knack for connecting with people from a young age. After her father’s passing in 2018, she decided to pursue a career in medicine.

At SWBOCES, Wenzel enrolled in the phlebotomy and EKG technician course. After learning hands-on skills in that course, she realized she wanted to do more clinical work. She then enrolled in the clinical medical assistant (CMA) program.

“Patient care is one of the greatest skills I learned in both programs,” says Wenzel. “Through hands-on experience, they introduce you to many of the different skills you need to know like performing EKGs and reading echocardiograms.”

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Wenzel completed the CMA program in January 2023 and passed the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) certification exams. She now works at Refocus Eye Associates and Greenwich Eye Associates as an ophthalmic technician and medical assistant, assisting with various in-office procedures, including blepharoplasties and other surgeries.

“My current job made me get more into the surgical side of medicine,” says Wenzel. “Now that I’m looking at nursing school, I’m thinking maybe an operating room nurse or trauma nurse.”

Maria Wenzel
Photo courtesy of Maria Wenzel

During her time at BOCES, Wenzel credits her professors with inspiring her and introducing her to different ways of learning. For students interested in a career in medicine, she recommends the BOCES healthcare programs as a foundation for your career.

“There’s literally nothing to lose,” says Wenzel. “You learn something new every single day. Just go for it and don’t be scared because there are people there that want you to succeed, and they will do everything they can to help you.”

Related: Westchester Training Providers Teach In-Demand Skills

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