BH-BL Senior Hadassah Harrell Wins SkillsUSA Award

Hadassah Harrell, a Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School senior, won the SkillsUSA Student of the Year award at the Capital Region BOCES Career and Technical Education Center Awards and Scholarship celebration in early June.

Harrell completed the Cosmetology Program at Capital Region BOCES and will study business and marketing at the University at Albany starting in August. She plans to work in marketing for the cosmetology industry.

"My parents are in sales, and we had a cosmetology marketing expert come into the class and speak, and I knew right then that is what I wanted to do," Harrell said.

The award recognizes students who demonstrate leadership and service, participate actively in the organization, and show dedication to their vocation. Harrell served as president of the SkillsUSA Albany CTE Campus morning session. She organized a toy drive for an area mission and a school supply collection for local youth.

Debra Toy, a campus advisor to SkillsUSA, said Harrell took every opportunity to grow as a leader. "She challenged herself to compete at both the regional and state level. She is always motivated to do her best and takes pride in all her accomplishments," Toy said.

Teacher Nicole Wentraub added: "She is very motivated as well as talented. I'm looking forward to seeing what her future brings in the industry."