LIBERTY, NY — “I’m gaining more knowledge in the music industry,” said Skylar Loyce, a Sullivan BOCES student enrolled in the Broadcasting Music Production class offered in partnership with Radio Catskill.

“It’s really helping me, and I feel as if I’m getting more skills in music, [and] I’m also getting a real feel of what it’s like to be in a professional setting,” added the 17-year-old Liberty High School senior.

Ever since WJFF Radio Catskill, 90.5 on your FM dial, decided to move from its original site on the shores of Lake Jefferson to a new state-of-the-art facility just outside the heart of Village of Liberty, students at Sullivan BOCES have been involved in the local public radio station, from construction projects to serving internships in Broadcasting Music Production and website design. 

There are currently 106 Sullivan BOCES students enrolled in several internship programs: animal science, auto tech, broadcasting/music production, construction tech, cosmetology, early childhood, electrical trades, innovative design, natural resources, public safety, welding and health occupations, with three more programs pending (auto body, culinary and EMT).

According to Tim Bruno, general manager at Radio Catskill, other success stories from the Sullivan BOCES/WJFF internship program include Samantha Medina Garzon, a former student at Fallsburg, who went on to major in television at Ithaca College; Jacob Schulte and Luis Otero, students in the BOCES innovative design class who are assisting with the station’s website design; and Lauren Kiefer and Hannah Easop, students who completed a design project last year.

“I’ve been busy with college for these past months,” recalled Garzon, in reply to an update query from Bruno about her involvement with WJFF. “I’ve been learning about video production and we just finished our sound. I have used a lot of what I learned back in the station.”

Another project-based internship focused on designing and a build-out of the station’s lobby space. It involved four phases: interview, initial design, final design and building, and according to the prospectus, “intern students [were] expected to either work independently in the classroom or be on-site and working in a professional manner with the clients.”

“It’s great; wonderful to see it growing over the last few years,” said Bruno about the WJFF/Sullivan BOCEs internship program. “It’s great that they are learning skills that are transferable… you can utilize something right here in your backyard, and you can take it other places.”

On the subject of the overall intern partnership, he said, “All these young kids come in, ‘Sure, I’ll do this!’ We’re grateful that we have this partnership, and can provide some opportunities.”

Given a chance to offer a closing word, Skylar Loyce wrote that while she doesn’t yet have a “real idea of what I want to do in the future… I really do hope that I will be able to have an opportunity to keep pursuing music in some way.

“I grew up listening to music, and different genres, and I really just love it. So if I am able to continue a path that includes music in any way, I’ll be really happy with that.”