In a style similar to “National Signing Day” events for high school student athletes, several dual-enrolled students from Washington, Jackson and Holmes County, Florida were recognized as they signed their “letters of intent” for a job offer, apprenticeship or advanced technical training on Wednesday, May 8, 2019 at Florida Panhandle Technical College in Chipley, Florida.
Students were joined by Washington County Superintendent of Schools Joe Taylor, School Board members Susan Roberts and Lou Cleveland, FPTC students, staff and instructors, SkillsUSA advisors, family and friends, as they took the next step in their education in electrical trade.
Nicholas Bailey, from Holmes County High School and Nathan Kelley, from Cottondale High School, along with Ethan Clark and Andrew Popcheck, from Chipley High School, signed their respective letters of intent to the applause of the student body, family and friends.
Each high school student received a Klein Tools Signing Kit, which included a hat, t-shirt, and their first pair of Klein Tools pliers to begin their lifelong careers.
‘We are excited to be able to partner with SkillsUSA and Klein Tools for the first-ever FPTC National Signing Day’, said FPTC Director Martha Compton.
‘As the shortage of skilled workers worsens, Florida Panhandle Technical College encourages students to enter this rewarding industry, just one which we offer here at FPTC, and as they continue to further their education and training post-graduation, we wish them all the best as they prepare for their lifelong careers’.
SkillsUSA helps students excel through the development of SkillsUSA Framework skills that include personal, workplace and technical skills grounded in academics.
Serving more than 360,000-member students and instructors per year in middle schools, high schools and colleges, this talent pipeline covers 130 trade, technical and skilled service occupations, the majority STEM-related.
Florida Panhandle Technical College competes each year in this series of school-versus school trade assessments and typically ranks very high in the region, sending students to regional and state competitions.
More than 600 corporations, trade associations, businesses and labor unions actively support SkillsUSA at the national level, designed and judged by industry to set relevant standards for career and technical education and provide recognition opportunities for students.
