High school students enrolled in career programs at Erie 1 BOCES Kenton Career & Technical Center in Tonawanda will use their newly acquired skills to help The Miracle League of Grand Island & WNY.

The Kenton center was recently awarded with a $10,000 grant through the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation, which was organized through SkillsUSA. BOCES’ Kenton center was one of only four organizations in the state to be awarded with the grant.

This spring, BOCES’ SkillsUSA members at Kenton will begin constructing a piece of playground equipment, a scoreboard and a press box at the Miracle League baseball field in Grand Island. They will also work on the landscaping for the field, which was first opened in September 2011 to provide a safe baseball environment for handicapped children.

Erie 1 BOCES’ three career centers, including Kenton, Harkness and Potter, participate in SkillsUSA. SkillsUSA is a national partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce.

“The grant in Tonawanda represents Lowe’s commitment to career and technical education,” said Marshall Croom, chairman of Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation. “By supporting schools like the Kenton Career & Technical Center, we believe we are contributing to a cause that’s important to our customers and employees by helping provide improved learning environments and build stronger communities.”