Providers of Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs will observe northeast Indiana’s CTE Awareness Month in May with signing ceremonies.
Northeast Indiana Works and its partners designated the month in 2019. This will be the fourth year for the initiative. The onset of COVID forced the cancellation of awareness month activities in 2020.
CTE programs teach specific career skills to high school students that prepare them for work after graduation or serve as a bridge to post-secondary education. Often, students in CTE programs earn industry-recognized certifications.
At the signing ceremonies, CTE graduates sign letters of intent to work for area employers.
Among the ceremonies planned for the region:
- The Adams Wells Manufacturing Alliance will host a signing ceremony at 6 p.m. May 8 at the Wells County Commerce & Visitors Centre, 211 Water St., Bluffton, IN. The speaker will be Carson Liby, a Norwell High School graduate who is completing a HVAC apprenticeship.
- Fort Wayne Community Schools’ Career Academy will hold signing ceremonies at 10 a.m. May 16 in the Anthis auditorium, 1200 S. Barr St., Fort Wayne, IN. The speaker will be academy alum Johnny Perez, owner and founder of Mercado on the Landing restaurant.
- The Impact Institute in Kendallville will conduct signing ceremonies at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. May 17 at Impact’s administrative offices, 1607 Dowling St., Kendallville.
- Garrett High School and its Career Development Program will hold an outdoor signing ceremony from 3 to 6 p.m. May 26 at 1001 Joanna Court, Garrett, IN. Music will be provided by Hubie Ashcraft. The scheduled speaker is Mark Michael, former president of Fort Wayne Metals and a Garrett High graduate.
- Heartland Career Center in Wabash will conduct signing ceremonies at area employers – something it does throughout the year.
“We are grateful that various entities continue to hold these signing ceremonies and shed light on the importance of preparing students for skilled occupations after high school graduation,” said Edmond O’Neal, president and CEO of Northeast Indiana Works. “Equally important is giving recognition to those students who have worked hard to learn skills that will position them for bright futures.”