GREAT FALLS – The first annual Great Fall Public Schools (GFPS) Career & Technical Education (CTE) National Signing Day was celebrated Wednesday.
The event honored high school seniors who are dedicated to pursuing a career in skilled trades.
The inaugural nationwide program recognizes seniors going into a CTE career, and is similar to the national signing day held for athletes.
A career in the skilled trades is in high demand due to a continuing labor shortage.
Six seniors were applauded by school administrators, teachers, elected officials, advisors, family and friends when they announced their career plans and signed “letter of intents” for either a job offer, apprenticeship or advanced technical training.
The six seniors with their business representative or owner are as follows:
- Brigid Eli – Cascade Electric
- Jesse Kalstrom – Liberty Electric
- Jevin Davis – Wadsworth Construction
- Julian Vinaras – Paradise Fencing
- Evan Herigon – Sletten Construction
- Reno Pospisil – Sletten Construction
Jevin Davis, who has been involved with High School House program for two years, said he learned a lot of useful hands-on experience through the program.
Jevin and his three brothers were all involved with the High School House program in high school.
He said once he graduates, he will work full time as a carpenter at Wadsworth Construction.
Jevin said, “They’re starting to like get their foot in the door of showing that the trades are more important and you can really have a good career in it, you don’t always have to go to college to make a lot of money, you can have a trades job and still make quite a bit of money.”
GFPS Superintendent Tammy Lacey noted there is currently 1,996 students in the CTE classes with 105 CTE courses offered at the three public high schools in Great Falls.
Twenty-seven Great Falls Public School seniors were also recognized for continuing their career at Great Falls College MSU in health care, computer technology, or accounting technology programs.
Reporting by Kasey Herman for MTN News
