NORWICH – Norwich High School senior and second year BOCES student Nathaniel Perry said he’s found his time in the Career Technical Education (CTE) program a unique and positive experience. His time as a state reporter for SkillsUSA has only added to his continued educational success.

A partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled work force, according to www.skillsusa.org, the mission of SkillsUSA is to “help its members become world-class workers, leaders and responsible citizens.”

In mid-September, Perry traveled to the Washington Leadership Training Institute in Washington, D.C., accompanied by a group of fellow SkillsUSA representatives.

“Basically we all gathered to meet with congressmen, senators and their offices and share the experiences we’ve had at each of our CTE schools,” said Perry. “It was a lot of fun and it was neat to see their reactions and interest in what we had to say. It was a side they’ve never heard before, first-hand, the impact that CTE schools have had on us.”

Perry, who had the opportunity to meet with Congressman Bill Owens as well as Congressman Michael Arcuri’s education assistant, said SkillsUSA has been “just one more positive experience” he’s enjoyed as a student at BOCES.