CATEC’s School-to-Work Signing Day will be held on May 20 from 10 am- 2pm in CATEC’s auditorium.
School-to-Work Signing Day will celebrate CATEC students who are graduating with employment commitments to local businesses. Students currently participating in internships and apprenticeships, as well as students who accept employment during CATEC’s Interview Week, are eligible to participate in the event. CATEC Director Stephanie Carter says, “CATEC is excited to recognize our students’ outstanding performance and commitment to employment with local businesses from their industries.”
This year, Charlottesville-Albemarle Technical Education Foundation (CATEF) is sponsoring CATEC’s Signing Day event. CATEF assists CATEC in advancing career and technical education, training, and job placement as well as promotes programs that provide career and technical training in Central Virginia.
Additionally, this year Red Wing Shoes and Diamondback Toolbelts are local sponsors that are providing high quality equipment to student participants. Red Wing shoes, located on Abbey Road, provides exceptional footwear and orthotics that keep safety, quality, and style in the forefront of their brand. CATEC students participating in Signing Day will receive a $150 gift certificate towards work-ready footwear. Diamondback Toolbelts, located on Allied Street, is a locally-owned business with national respect. Crafted entirely in the United States, their technically-advanced toolbelts and pouches improve the lives of skilled tradespeople while working on their craft. Building Trades and Electricity students participating in Signing Day will receive a Diamondback Toolbelt to begin their careers. Carter says, “In a school year that has been anything but predictable, CATEC prides itself on remaining true to its mission to provide quality career employment opportunities to our students. Together with our sponsors, we are helping these young people begin careers in our community.”
Signing Day comes off the heels of its Interview Week, held May 12-18. This weeklong event connected industry employers with CATEC students looking for employment. 20 employers interviewed students from five CATEC programs. Students from Culinary Arts, Automotive Service Technology, Automotive Body Repair, Electricity, and Veterinary Science participated in the event. Automotive Service Technology instructor Matt Richardson had five employers from local automotive dealerships participate in his program’s interview day. Richardson says the event “gave students the chance to see what a real job interview looked like and gave dealerships the chance to meet students who are eager to work.” Starting next week, three of his students will be participating in job shadow experiences that will potentially lead to employment opportunities. Malloy Ford and Piedmont Power participated in Richardson’s interview day and will be signing employment commitments with Automotive Service Technology students on Signing Day.
The School-to-Work Signing Day event, in its entirety, will be available to view on CATEC’s YouTube page beginning May 27 at 7 pm.