HUTCHINSON, Kan. —The 2022 Signing Day for technical education programs through HutchCC and Hutchinson Career and Technical Education Academy was Thursday morning at the Stringer Fine Arts Center at Hutchinson Community College.
Travis Riebel with the Hutchinson Career and Technical Education Academy is glad to have an event for these students to help them know how vital technical education can be.
"What we want to do is celebrate the choice that they have made to enter a career path of their choosing," Riebel said. "Also, we want to recognize the work that it takes to put in to get technical certificates and the reward when they finish those certificates."
Part of this is that students can use their hands on strengths to help them finish strong academically.
"Students get to enter training programs as juniors and seniors in high school," Riebel said. "To me, it's really interesting and fun to see students as they complete their education as a normal high school student while entering college and training programs all at the same time."
It's important to note that a high school diploma by itself isn't enough for most jobs any more.
"The research by the Jamestown Institute suggests that 76% of jobs will require some sort of a degree, certification, certificate, whatever that might be, beyond a high school diploma. It is important for us to have these programs to fill the need for the jobs we have locally as well as within our region."
Employers like The Bradbury Group, Buck Plumbing and A.C., Inc., Collins Bus/Rev Group, Ideatek, Kansas Electric, Lowen Corporation, SDI, Superior Boiler, Takako, Viega and Wesley Towers sponsored the event.
"Our training programs match up very well to what our local business and industries are looking for with students," Riebel said. "We hope to make that connection, providing them with employment when they get out of the programs."
Over 250 students were invited based upon their anticipated enrollment in the programs for next year, though Riebel said they will take some enrollments for those who qualify all the way up until school starts in August, as space becomes available.