By ROD ZOOK
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hundreds of students from all across the county took time to participate in the Chamber of Commerce signing day.
The partnership between the Chamber, Hutchinson High School’s Career and Technical Education Academy and Hutchinson Community College gave students entering into vocational or science and technology programs a chance to announce their intentions for their careers. The ceremony was held like some athletic college signing ceremonies, but these were all career-related. Travis Riebel of the Career and Technical Education Academy took time to tell students the significance of today's event.
“Right now, over 70% of jobs need training beyond the high school diploma,” Riebel said. “That could be a college education, postsecondary education, it could be certifications.”
The guest speaker for the event was Deputy Secretary of Commerce for Kansas Bill Murphy, who talked about the need to teach and keep students in Kansas to fill future job needs.
“We’re challenged here in Kansas because we don’t have the dynamic population like in other places in the south like Georgia, Tennessee and increasingly Texas,” Murphy said.
He added that it all starts with local talent.
“We’ve got to make sure that the talent that we’re turning out is top notch,” Murphy said. “We’re competing for the same projects that are looking at Dallas or are looking at Hutch.”
The students were taken to a table eight at a time where they announced their intentions for their careers and then signed their letter of intent. The program is a continued partnership with Hutchinson Community College. President Dr. Carter File says the program will offer students college-level education and a head start.
“You’re starting college,” File said. “This is your first entry into college. Our courses are going to be college-level courses, college-level rigor, and college-level expectations, you will get college credit for it.”
Students from all of the area school districts celebrated signing day in three different events held at the academy.
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