Hendrick Hudson's Sophia Jones Recognized as PNW BOCES Student of Distinction

After taking a graphic design and photography class at Hendrick Hudson High School as an underclassman, Sophia Jones knew she had found something that intrigued her. The next step was to learn how she could further pursue that interest.

In the spring of her sophomore year, Jones found the perfect avenue to chase her dream at the PNW BOCES Career and Technical Education Center. Now, in her second year as a student in the school’s Graphic Design and Digital Photography program, Jones has been recognized as a Student of Distinction.

She received the honor during the Jan. 7 Board of Education meeting in the Hendrick Hudson cafeteria.

“Two years ago, I was just playing on an iPad and thinking it was fun,” Jones said. “Now, I’m actually going to pursue this for real and I’m being recognized for it, so it’s just unbelievable.”

Jones was presented with a medal by instructor Aaron Arimisto and a certificate by Career Academy Principal Dan Gannon, who were in attendance along with PNW BOCES District Superintendent Neil Boyle. Gannon praised Jones, calling her “a model student.”

“She has consistently been the first to volunteer for work-based learning opportunities,” Gannon said. “She has taken phenomenal photographs for several important events on campus and received praise for both her work and her professionalism.”

One such experience that Jones has cherished was the opportunity to shoot yearbook photographs of students at the Walden School and Pines Bridge School. She has handled that assignment for the last two years, bringing lighting equipment to the schools to establish a makeshift photo studio.

“It was a real-life experience to be able to handle the camera in a studio environment, including the lighting and editing the pictures afterwards,” she said. “It was great.”

Jones has already committed to pursuing the work in college and has hopes to major in graphic design with an additional emphasis on photography. She has applied to eight colleges that would allow her to focus on that work.

“I see myself doing this long-term,” she said.