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Northeast State celebrated 24 high school students representing 12 regional high schools and academies who signed a career and technical education letter of intent at National Signing Day held on April 18.

 

The National Career and Technical Education Letter of Intent Signing Day, welcoming students committed to attending the College for the 2024-25 school year. The students will pursue a variety of academic degree pathways ranging from Aviation Technology and Machining to Engineering Design and Nursing.

 

Northeast State President Dr. Jeff McCord welcomed students and their family members to the ceremony held in the Technical Education Complex on the College’s Blountville campus. McCord noted the students’ decision to pursue technical education careers meant timely opportunities awaited to be the next generation of trade-skilled professionals.

 

“We are going to help you get to where you want to be and unlock those opportunities,” said Dr. McCord. “We are grateful you have decided to walk with us, and we are ready to walk with you.”

The National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3) hosts the annual signing day event. Signing day recognizes students who are entering a technical field and emphasizes the importance of their career choice. Students join their peers to commit to their future technical program pathway and sign a letter of commitment to attend their school of choice once they have completed their high school career.

 

Students attending the signing ceremony and their respective high schools and learning academies are listed below.

 

Abeka Academy – William Cox; Johnson County High School – Chloe Gladden; Davy Crockett High School – Caleb Stevens; Daniel Boone High School – Summer Riddell; Science Hill High School – Jordan Cole, Hudson Walsh; Sullivan East High School – Frederick Bridgeman, Clayton Carr, Lucas Fahn, Paxton Lowe, Colton Osborne; Dobyns-Bennett High School – Emily Adams, Isaac Call, Camrin Coffey, Cadence Curtis, James Hilton; Hampton High School – Lyndsey Rhone; Tennessee High School – Robert Dean, Gavin Sochalski; Heritage Christian Academy – Benjamin Peters; Unaka High School – James Joyner, Julie Tolley; Unicoi County High School – Aiden Morrow

 

Shelby McKenzie, Director of High School Programs at Northeast State, announced the students attending the ceremony to sign their letters. Signees received Northeast State backpacks and copies of their signed NC3 certificates.

 

Several students held dual enrollment status with Northeast State completing college credit hours while they attended high school. Students Shirk, Rhone, Riddell, Lowe and Osborne will graduate concurrently this spring from Northeast State this spring after earning technical certificates as dual enrollment students.

 

In addition, new signee Emily Adams received the $1,000 3M Transformational Scholarship. This national scholarship provided by 3M and NC3 supports students from diverse backgrounds to pursue their college credentials in the skilled trades sector.

 

Since the very first NC3 National CTE Letter of Intent Signing Day event was hosted by just one school in 2014, over 120 community colleges, 850 high schools, and over 30,000 students have participated in the event.

 

NC3 was created to help build a generational workforce prepared to meet the needs of today and tomorrow’s industries. The organization seeks to partner employers and educational institutions to foster effective training, elevation of skilled careers, and employment opportunities.

 

For more information, visit https://nc3.net/signingday/.

 

 

 

Photo / NC3 signing NESCC:  Northeast State President Dr. Jeff McCord hands the pen to student Benjamin Peters who signed his CTE letter of intent with 23 other high school students on April 18.