While high school signing ceremonies are often held for student-athletes heading off to play college sports, Central Campus has started a new tradition: celebrating students who are using their skilled trades education to head off to good careers.
Last week we shared the first such event as senior Alexis Chavarria signed on to work with Heartland Carpentry and Carpenters Local 106.
Today, with one week left in the school year, ten more soon-to-be graduates gathered on stage in the Central Campus auditorium for a second Skilled Trades signing ceremony. Parents, teachers, future employers and supporters of the Skilled Trades Academy joined in the celebration.
The Skilled Trades Academy at Central Campus was launched in the 2017-18 school year, a partnership between DMPS, the construction industry and labor to educate students for the highly skilled and technical jobs needed in the community. The program is a hub for students in the region to learn about carpentry, civil engineering, computer-aided design, electrical, HVAC and plumbing, and welding technology.
The signing event was one part to mark how far the program has come in a short time, one part an opportunity to publicly congratulate students on their good work, and one part a message to students considering learning more about skilled trades that they are valued by Central Campus and their teachers.
Congratulations to the students honored at the signing ceremony:
ELECTRICITAL
- Sean Albright – Lincoln High School – Baker Electric (and planningto apply for an apprenticeship with Des Moines Electrical Apprenticeship)
- Mitchell Kelly – Waukee High School – Kline Electric
- Aracin Leuang Van – Roosevelt High School – Kline Electric
- Walter Rivera Lara– Roosevelt High School – Tri-City Electric (and planning to apply for an apprenticeship with Des Moines Electrical Apprenticeship)
PLUMBING & MECHANICAL
- Eduardo Abarca – East High School – Waldinger Corporation
- Logan Bromert – Roosevelt High School – McAninch Corporation and Laborers’ Local 177
- David Harrington – Lincoln High School – DMACC HVAC program
SCHOOL-BASED WELDING REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM
Three juniors will begin the welding apprenticeship program with John Deere:
- Kayara Hartfield– Roosevelt High School
- Nathan Nguyen – Lincoln High School
- Vicente Perez -Hoover High School
To learn more about the Skilled Trades Academy, visit the Central Campus web site.
