SEDC hosts Seguin’s first Industry Signing Day for area high school seniors

Seguin, TX, USA / Seguin Today

Cindy Aguirre

(Seguin) — High School seniors headed into the workforce or a trade school were celebrated this week. Both the Seguin ISD and Navarro ISD participated in the first ever Seguin Industry Signing Day hosted by the Seguin Economic Development Corporation.

The SEDC recognized the students choosing to enter career pathways leading to in-demand careers and occupations directly from high school.

SEDC officials say it has become a tradition across high schools to hold a “signing day” for high school athletes to announce which team they will join. There is a signing day for kids to announce where they will go to college. In addition, there is also the Skills US National Signing Day, where students sign “letters of intent” for job offers, apprenticeship and/or advanced technical training.

During Seguin Industry Signing Day, over 10 high school senior students will sign letters of intent reflecting their commitment to go straight into the workforce with a few Seguin local companies and
various technical schools across the nation. They say many of these students will begin programs in Advanced Manufacturing, Welding, Steel Making and healthcare industries.

Josh Schneuker, SEDC executive director, says Seguin Industry Signing Day highlights the importance of a Career and Technical Education (CTE) curriculum that works to ensure a skilled future workforce for the Seguin community and nationwide.

“We are thrilled to be able to recognize high school seniors from our area high schools across the community for their commitment to the skilled trades,” said Josh Schneuker, executive director of the SEDC.

“These students will make a big impact on the U.S. labor market and will help to close the skills gap impacting our country today. We hope that by raising awareness of the many career options in the skilled trades, we will have even more students signing their ‘letters of intent’ next year.”

Schneuker says Seguin Industry Signing Day encourages partnerships between high schools and community/technical colleges and local companies. He says these partnerships allow for college affordability with an emphasis on preparing students, who are the future workforce of Texas.

Betsy Flood, Navarro ISD CTE coordinator says the district was excited to highlight these accomplishments.

“Today, we have the opportunity to celebrate our students who have made a commitment to rewarding careers in the skilled trades. By empowering the next generation of workers to enter the trades, we can
help to close the skills gap not only nationally, but in our local communities as well. Together with our corporate partners we can continue to provide skilled training through quality programs that will help to
grow the talent pipeline for our local, national and global workforce,” said Flood.

Rick Bough, Seguin ISD CTE director, also was proud of this recognition for all his students who have committed to promising futures.

“We are excited to partner with SEDC to recognize Seguin ISD Career and Technical Education students that have completed their pathway at Seguin High School and are ready to take the next step in their
careers. For some, that means attending a trade school to gain further understanding of their craft, while for others it means using the skills and knowledge, they have gained in their CTE courses to enter the workforce. We (Seguin ISD) are proud of these young men and women and know that they will represent our district and their programs well,” said Bough.

The students were celebrated this past week during special ceremonies held at each of the respective high schools.

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