“It doesn’t get any cooler than big machines!”

That is what Port Byron senior Lucas Briseno has to say about the Heavy Equipment Repair and Operation (HERO) program that he is taking as part of the Career and Technical Education (CTE) program at Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES. The HERO program is a two-year course that trains students to operate, maintain and repair a variety of heavy equipment. 

Briseno’s skill and precision behind the controls of the heavy equipment earned him first place in the SkillsUSA Area 2 Regional Conference and a coveted spot in the New York State SKILLS competition which will take place at the NYS Fairgrounds next month.

“I love it,” Briseno said.

From maneuvering an excavator with precision to deftly handling a payloader's articulated steering, Briseno thrives on the thrill that comes with operating heavy equipment.

Briseno, who is now preparing for April’s competition, eagerly anticipates this opportunity to pit his skills against his peers from across New York State. At the competition, he'll navigate through a series of challenges, each one an opportunity for him to showcase his skill on a larger scale.

Briseno, who will graduate from Port Byron in June 2024, plans to continue operating heavy equipment as a career. He also plans to earn his class A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL).