Milestone Achievement: 105 NFA P-TECH Scholars Earn SUNY Orange Associate’s Degrees

Newburgh Free Academy P-TECH celebrated 22 more scholars who earned their associate’s degree in Cyber Security from SUNY Orange this year. All scholars earned both their high school diploma and associate’s degree simultaneously through the NFA P-TECH program, 15 of whom completed both degrees in four years. A total of 105 graduates have earned both degrees through the NFA P-TECH program that partners with IBM and SUNY Orange.

Each year, 50 students are accepted into a cohort. Scholars have up to six years to graduate with their associate’s degree free of charge through the NFA-PTECH program. Some scholars choose to begin working or transfer to a four-year college upon high school graduation.

The NFA P-TECH program has a thorough mentorship and paid summer internship program with IBM. Each scholar is paired with a mentor and mentoring events are hosted periodically throughout the year with a specific focus for each event. Mentors and their scholars also work independently on various skills throughout their professional relationship. Additionally, IBM offers paid summer internships for scholars in various fields allowing scholars to gain general professional experience as well as skilled experience in specific areas of focus.

Newburgh Free Academy’s P-TECH program is modeled after a similar program in Brooklyn that started in 2011, and was part of the first cohort of grant awardees in New York State. There are now almost 40 P-TECH schools across NYS and over 200 P-TECH schools worldwide.

Beginning on day one of the program and lasting throughout their four years at Newburgh Free Academy North Campus, students work on professional skills such as communication, collaboration and analytic thinking that have been identified as keys to success in both college and career. The P-TECH Program at Newburgh Free Academy is a partnership with the Newburgh Enlarged City School District, SUNY Orange, and IBM. All students have mentors from IBM or Global Foundries who develop professional relationships allowing students to ask questions, network, and learn from professionals in the field of technology. Additionally, most students completed paid internships at IBM over the summer throughout the program.

The NFA P-TECH program is led by House Principal, Mr. Kevin Rothman.

The SUNY Orange commencement recording can be found here: can be viewed here.

Photos from the NFA P-TECH graduation from SUNY Orange can be found here.

2022 SUNY Orange graduates include:

Noella Capodieci

Joshua Cardoso

Thomas Coleman

Alondra Cruz-Delgado

Lela Donaldson

Michael Flores

Adrianna Frias

Anthony Giorgianni

Zoe Graves

Brizayna Harvey

Jayden Jackson-Eyo

AhDisa Jenkins

Kevin Leto

Roberto Lopez

Daniel Mendoza

Leonardo Mera

Diego Quispe

Roberto Reade

Aiden Skakel

Aizia Smith

Aiden Stroud

Nathan Teall

ATTENTION: Are your scholars or colleagues doing something great? Please contact the district Communications Team at communications@necsd.net. We’d love to visit your class or event and/or post your pictures and recap to highlight the amazing accomplishments throughout our district!