Student signing ceremonies will be conducted throughout northeast Indiana in May in recognition of CTE (Career & Technical Education) Awareness Month.
The month was designated several years ago by Northeast Indiana Works and the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership to promote skills-based training at the secondary-school level that leads to certifications and then employment after high school. The signings symbolically represent commitments to work for companies; in some cases, the signings also represent agreements to participate in apprenticeships.
Among the ceremonies scheduled in May:
- Adams Wells Manufacturing Alliance (AWMA): A signing ceremony involving graduating seniors will be held at 6 p.m. May 4 at the MERIT Center, 1109 Dayton St., Decatur, IN. Guest speaker will be Dan Rickord, mayor of Decatur.
- Fort Wayne Community Schools Career Academy: A signing ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. May 17 in the academy auditorium at 1200 S. Barr St., Fort Wayne, IN. Some of the signings will involve apprenticeships. Guest speaker will be Rusty Reed, a Career Academy graduate and Ottenweller Corp. employee.
- IMPACT Institute: Signing ceremonies involving job and apprenticeship agreements will be conducted at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. May 18 at the IMPACT administrative office, 1607 Dowling St., Kendallville, IN.
- Garrett-Keyser-Butler Community Schools: The school district will conduct a signing day for students who’ve secured either apprenticeships or jobs. The ceremony will be from 3 to 6 p.m. May 20 at 1002 Joanna Court, site of the second home built by building trades students in a cul-de-sac across from the high school. The ceremony will include food trucks and a band.
Some education providers, such as the Heartland Career Center in Wabash, conduct similar signing ceremonies throughout the year.
“Students who complete CTE learning and experience opportunities are essential to the well-being of workforces through northeast Indiana and generally to the regional economy,” said Edmond O’Neal, president and CEO of Northeast Indiana Works.
Moreover, Jesse Webb, principal/director of FWCS’ career academy, said “career and technical education courses give students a chance to be successful in life.”