Twenty-four students from five area high schools took part in Blount County Job Signing Day activities at the Airport Hilton as they inked with 13 local companies to begin their careers.
These seniors either took career and technical education (CTE) courses on a career pathway, earned an industry certification in school, or participated in work-based Learning (WBL).
“For quite some time, ‘vocational education’ developed a stigma. High school students were under the impression that the only way to reach their full potential was to go to a four-year university,” said Blount County Schools Career and Technical Education Assistant Principal Lisa Collins. “But what we know now is that career and technical education is in high demand and is leading to employment and careers that allow our students to reach their fullest potential.”
Students are taking positions in welding, advanced manufacturing, coding, electrical apprenticeships, aquatics manager, rigging technicians and nursing assistants.
Companies offering these students positions are ICC International, Avero Advisors, Danny Davis Electric, Boatmate Trailers, Cherokee Millwright, Smoky Mountain Gymnastics, Royal Metal Powders, Blount Memorial Hospital, Viper Customs, Cornerstone of Recovery, Resource MFG, Xtreme Tower Products and Massey Electric.
Presented by the Blount Partnership, it promotes the notion that although every student’s path may be different, and sometimes nontraditional, there are opportunities for meaningful careers in Blount County for everyone. It also celebrates the fact that there are multiple opportunities for high school students to explore and begin preparing for careers. Some students are going on to start their careers full-time, some are going to do a combination of school and work, and some are going to work now with the plan of starting school later.
“We have worked with educators, businesses and the community to change the perceptions of certain careers that were labeled as dirty and dangerous with low pay,” said Blount Partnership Director of Communications Jeff Muir. “We have managed to show students these jobs can be high-tech, safe, high-paying careers. We are seeing that work come to fruition as the mentality is really changing and career and technical education is being valued.”
This is the third year the Blount Partnership has held its career signing day for graduating seniors and local businesses.
| Addison Goforth | AVERO Advisors |
| Megan Cooper | Blount Memorial Hospital |
| Khloe Buchanan | Blount Memorial Hospital |
| Emory Meadows | Blount Memorial Hospital |
| Lexy Sampson | Blount Memorial Hospital |
| Zachary Willis | Boatmate |
| Nicole Woods | Cherokee Millwright |
| Nick Dean | Cherokee Millwright |
| Joshua Eldridge | Danny Davis Electrical Contractors, Inc. |
| Alexandar Hudson | Danny Davis Electrical Contractors, Inc. |
| Brigham White | Danny Davis Electrical Contractors, Inc. |
| Molly Marantos | DENSO / Resource MFG |
| Kevin Vasquez | ICC International / GEAR Recruiting |
| Hunter Frazier | ICC International / GEAR Recruiting |
| Brandon Payne | Massey |
| Logan Swanner | Massey |
| Isaiah Morton | Massey |
| Rowan Headrick | Royal Metal Powders |
| Jacob Gabrys | Royal Metal Powders |
| Ian Adkins | Royal Metal Powders |
| Toni Giardina | Smoky Mountain Gymnastics |
| Logan Goforth | Viper Customs |
| Luke Wright | Viper Customs |
| Brent Hutsell | Xtreme Tower Products |