Botetourt Technical Education Center (BTEC) Principal Mike Ketron was familiar with “signings,” those celebrations when student athletes are recognized for receiving offers to be involved in athletics when they head off to college.

That experience came with the job when he was assistant principal at James River High School.

Earlier this spring, he had the idea to do the same for another group of students— those young men and women who have earned industry certifications through the programs at BTEC and used those certifications to get part-time jobs— then offers of full-time employment when they graduated this week.

That’s what led to a Thursday morning celebration at the school in Fincastle where 13 students literally signed offers with seven different companies to move from BTEC’s School to Work and the new Apprenticeship programs to full-time jobs.

It was the school’s first Career Signing Day and it attracted parents, representatives from the companies, School Board and Board of Supervisors members and a mix of other county and state officials along with business leaders in the community.

“These students who are being recognized today have taken the knowledge and skills learned at BTEC, along with Work Place Readiness skills and made the most of this opportunity by acquiring offers of full-time employment upon graduation from high school,” Ketron said in his introduction to the students and employers.

The significance of the event wasn’t lost on the end-of-school rush. Superintendent John Busher made note of the Career Signing Day in his remarks during Lord Botetourt High School’s graduation Monday night at the Salem Civic Center when he asked any 2018 graduates to stand if they already had jobs.

“Workforce development takes a community effort and I am so thankful to be a part of this community, a community that places value on providing opportunities like this for our students,” Ketron said at the Career Signing Day.

As each student was introduced, Ketron noted the company and company representatives who were there for the signing.

Seven of the students came out of the school’s welding program that is taught by Troy Linkenhoker and Chris Zalewski. The students, their certifications and where they’re working are:

• Trevor Landes earned certifications in OSHA Card 10, Safety and Pollution Prevention Certification and SkillsUSA Welding Certification. Troy Clark with Renaissance Lighting was on hand to offer full-time employment where Landes began working in February in the School to Work program.
• Mitchell Williamson earned certifications in OSHA Card 10, Safety and Pollution Prevention Certification and SkillsUSA Welding Certification. He placed first in the Regional SkillsUSA Welding Competition in 2017. Mike Ayers, Robert Dye and Terrell Smith represented Excel Trailer Group where Williamson is working. Williamson participated in the Apprenticeship program and began the school year working at Excel.
• Bryce Dunn earned certifications in OSHA Card 10, Safety and Pollution Prevention Certification, SkillsUSA Welding Certification and American Welding Society Flux Core Certification. David Clark with Clark Brothers Welding was on hand to offer Dunn full-time employment. Dunn began working at Clark Brothers in April in the School to Work program.
• Josh Ford earned certifications in OSHA Card 10, Safety and Pollution Prevention Certification, SkillsUSA Welding Certification and American Welding Society Flux Core Certification. He completed both the Building Trades and Welding programs at BTEC. Josh Marion with Precision Hydraulics was at the signing to offer Ford full-time employment. Ford participated in the School to Work program at Precision beginning last November.
• Roy (RJ) Bryant earned certifications in OSHA Card 10, Safety and Pollution Prevention Certification, SkillsUSA Welding Certification and American Welding Society Flux Core Certification. Burt Maness with Canatal Steel offered Bryant full-time employment after he participated in the School to Work program beginning in December.
• Brandon McDaniel earned certifications in OSHA Card 10, Safety and Pollution Prevention Certification, SkillsUSA Welding Certification and American Welding Society Flux Core Certification. McDaniel participated in the Apprenticeship Program and began working at Canatal Steel at the beginning of the school year. Maness offered him full-time employment.
• Donnie Petty earned certifications in OSHA Card 10, Safety and Pollution Prevention Certification, SkillsUSA Welding Certification and the American Welding Society GMAW Mig Certification. He started in the School to Work program at Canatal Steel in September and Maness also offered him full-time employment at Canatal.

Two students in the Auto Service Technology program were at the signing. Chris Frost is the BTEC instructor.

• Matthew Andrews earned certifications in Safety and Pollution Prevention, ASE Suspension and Steering, ASE Engine Repair, ASE Maintenance and Light Repair and his State Inspection License. He started in the School to Work Program at Berglund Automotive in February and was offered a full-time job with the company.
• Alex Wilhelm earned certifications in Safety and Pollution Prevention, ASE Suspension and Steering, ASE Engine Repair and ASE Maintenance and Light Repair. He also participated in the School to Work program at Berglund Automotive beginning in December and was offered full-time employment at the company.

Four students in the Auto Body Technician program also signed full-time employment offers. The instructor for the program is Donnie Sale.

• Cheyenne Keen earned the Safety and Pollution Prevention Certification and ICAR Pro Level 1 Certification. She was offered full-time employment by David Clark with Clark Brothers Welding where she participated in the School to Work Program as a powder coater starting in April.
• William Leonard earned the Safety and Pollution Prevention Certification, ICAR Pro Level 1 Certification, ASE Non-structural Repair Certification and ASE Refinishing Certification. Tracey Nester and Ed Roff with Lawrence Companies were on hand to offer Leonard full-time employment where he participated in the School to Work Program.
• Nicholas Stinnett earned the Safety and Pollution Prevention Certification, ASE Non-structural Repair Certification and ASE Refinishing Certification. David Ringley with Magic City Ford offered Stinnett full-time employment at the company where Stinnett participated in the Apprenticeship Program since the beginning of the school year.
• Austin Jackson earned the Safety and Pollution Prevention Certification, ASE Non-structural Repair Certification and ASE Refinishing Certification. He was BTEC’s first student in the Apprenticeship Program. He completed his certifications in the 10^th grade and went to work during his junior year. He was the first student who tested out of the Apprenticeship Program and began working at Berglund Automotive at the beginning of the 2016-17 school year. Berglund offered him full-time employment.

After the signings, Ketron told the audience that he invited underclassmen to watch the program so they would know what they can do, and he challenged them “do what these students have done.”