Over 90 Blount County students sign with local employers at eighth annual ‘Job Signing Day’
Blount County Job Signing Day mirrors the college signing day format to put workforce-ready graduates in the spotlight alongside their college-bound peers.
More than 90 Blount-area high school seniors were recognized Tuesday as students inked commitments with dozens of local employers from the Tennessee Valley Authority and Prisma Health Blount Memorial Hospital to Massey Electric and beyond in a celebration that was fitting for a championship send-off.
The Blount Partnership pulled out all the stops for the Job Signing Day: hype videos, smoke effects, grand entrances, balloons and the kind of fanfare typically reserved for college athletic signings. But, that’s exactly the point.
This program was built on the projection that there will be over three million lucrative jobs in the skilled trades open over the next three years. In order to make strides in filling these gaps, students going into skilled trades must be celebrated just as much as athletes or those going into higher education. To get to this point of being workforce-ready, these students have already completed career and technical education coursework, earned industry certifications, or participated in work-based learning programs.
“Blount County Job Signing Day is a powerful reminder that success doesn’t follow just one path. Career and technical education is opening doors to meaningful, high-paying careers for our students right here in our community. Today, we celebrate students who have already proven themselves in both the classroom and the workplace and are stepping confidently into their futures. By supporting these pathways, we’re not only empowering our youth to reach their fullest potential but also strengthening the workforce and future of Blount County,” said Jessica Belitz, Director of Workforce Development.
A record-breaking turnout
Last year, 87 students signed up for a job with 47 participating employers. This year…
“These students are making the commitment to transition directly from school into a career. They deserve to be celebrated as much as big time athletes,” said Brian Davis. The company he works for, Danny Davis Electrical, is a work-based learning employer and longtime ‘Job Signing Day’ partner.
Wanting to get your business involved next year? Email Blount Partnership.
Like what you've read?
Forward to a friend!