Building up: Retooled Advanced Manufacturing learning lab unveiled by Orleans/Niagara BOCES

Thomas Tedesco, Lockport Union-Sun & Journal, N.Y.
·2 min read

May 9—MEDINA — Over the past 30 years, William Rakonczay has taught more than 1,000 students in the Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering program at Orleans Career and Technical Education Center.

This year, however, may hold a bit more significance than others for Rakonczay and his students.

"It's a pretty amazing feeling to have a career last as long as mine and towards the end of my career to be at such a high point," Rakonczay said.

Last year, his program scored a $250,000 grant from the Gene Haas Foundation to remodel the AME classroom and provide state-of-the-art machines and technology for students.

"We're happy to say Mr. Rakonczay's program is full to the brim for next year. Machinists will be coming out of that lab for years to come," OCTEC principal Nicole Goyette said.

Like several of his AME classmates, Medina High School senior Joseph Brueckner was surprised to see the makeover for the first time.

"It was overwhelming and very different from when it was when we first came in here," Brueckner said. "It was more of an obstacle we had to go through to get all of this set up and still learn in the class, but it was very fun to get everything set up."

At the Thursday ribbon cutting ceremony, Rakconzay looked back on his career and noted that things have changed considerably since he started teaching in 1993.

"It was a combined class that first year of seniors and juniors. So it was difficult not only teaching two different curriculums at the same time, but also not even having a game plan of what I was trying to accomplish," Rakonczay said.

While a lot has changed since then, Rakonczay stressed it's always been about students first.

"The most important thing in my mind is always the students, because everything revolves around them. So their success, their sticking with the trade, means everything to me," he said.

Senior Callum Stevenson of Lockport said being a student in Rakonczay's class has helped him do just that.

Once he graduates, he plans to work as a machinist at Lockport-based Modern-Tec Manufacturing, with which he already has a working relationship through the program.

"Mr. R is definitely hands down the best teacher here for kids. If you come into class and you do the things he tells you to...he basically lays out the blueprint for you and as long as you follow it, you'll leave this class with a good job, college credits, whatever you want," Stevenson said.